Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Leaving Ignorance Behind

1 Peter 1:13-14 (NIV)
13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.

Self-control is not easy or a given, at least for me, but that is part of following Jesus. Overcoming self is part of overcoming the world. We are not asked to do this by our own power. We have been given the strength of God’s own Spirit to enable us to do what we could not do alone. In this process we do not lose who we are, but evolve to a higher, truer self.

This is an active, ongoing process. That is the call for action. Our walk with Jesus implies movement: movement powered by obedience to His teachings. His teachings are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Grace is given now and will continue as Christ is revealed, in the present and when He comes back. Both grace and revelation are continuous and exist in each moment. They work together. Grace allows for revelation and revelation confirms grace. We grow and prepare to meet Jesus when He returns, this time fully revealed. We will be revealed with Him. In seeking Him, we leave ignorance behind.

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