1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
That’s certainly what we need to do in 2009 Friends! Peter’s calling the early believers to dedicate themselves to a life based on Christian principles. And now, at this tumultuous crossroads of time in our world, my Friends, I want to reissue that call. I want us to rededicate ourselves to living a truly Christian lifestyle. However, knowing all the scripture, doctrine, who said what etc. and putting it into practice are two entirely different things, and we’ll never realize nor enjoy the full value of a Christian life until we sincerely practice the principles in our everyday lives. We’ve already acknowledged that it’s easier said than done, but everything in this world is, yet we still accomplish difficult tasks because we study what we want to do, lay out a plan for it, then discipline ourselves to follow it. It’s like losing weight: We can all lose it, but very few keep it off, because we have to change our lifestyles and become disciplined to the new way, which doesn’t happen overnight or in a short period of time either. Dedication to a true Christian life is exactly the same. We claim to be Christians, followers of Christ, then to be truly that, we must follow Christ’s plan for living, which in its simplest form breaks down to LOVING God, your neighbour and yourself. So where do we start? Obviously by studying the plan; that’s the Bible; the Good Book; the Word. And having studied the guidelines, we start putting them into practice in our lives; one by one, slowly, learning as we go, what works and what doesn’t. That’s why Peter declared: ‘Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind…’ Tighten the belt of your mind; for once the heart has made a conscious decision to follow Christ and His principles for earthly living, then it’s the responsibility of the mind to put that decision into action. It’s the mind’s job to bring the body under control, to do what it takes to make the dream a reality. So we need to discipline ourselves, both internally and externally; think wholesome God-focused thoughts that will lead us to external Christ-like conduct. As Bruh Paul advises: ‘Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true…honest…just…pure…lovely…of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.’ (Phil.4:8) So there we have it in a nutshell people; the things we should concentrate on; those that deal with truth, honesty, justice, purity, loveliness, goodness, virtue and praise. Now once we discipline ourselves to concentrate on those Christian principles, then we have to ‘be sober,’ don’t get too high, or low for that matter, either mentally, emotionally or spiritually, cause if we allow ourselves to get intoxicated on any level, then we’re liable to lose focus and balance, weave all over the place until we crash into no man’s land. It’s just like if we imbibe too much alcohol; it destroys our natural ‘riddim,’ blurs and disrupts both our mental and bodily functions, so that we’re unable to walk a straight line. And Friends, it’s hard enough to walk the Christian straight line sober, just imagine doing it intoxicated, over emotional and unbalanced. And why, you ask, are we putting ourselves through this not easy process that differs considerably from what the world around us eschews as the good life? Because we ‘hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you, at the revelation of Jesus Christ.’ Yes people, it’s the hope of the real good life; the great, unimaginable rewards we’ll receive when Jesus comes back to set up His Eternal Kingdom. Alexandre Dumas said that ‘All human wisdom is summed up in two words: wait and hope.’ And Bruh Paul claims, ‘If we hope for what we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.’ (Rom.8:25) And what are we hoping in patience, waiting in faith for? The New Jerusalem! ‘And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: and I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.’ (Rev.21:1-5) Oh Friends, that’s the salvation, the eternal life we’ve got to look forward to if we embrace Jesus and faithfully follow Him. Sadly though, it’s got be a conscious, personal decision for every human being. No one can make us do, or not do it. What it boils down to people, is who offers the best retirement package; the enemy, with death and eternal damnation, or Jesus, with salvation and eternal life? I’m casting my vote for Jesus, throwing my hat in the ring with Him, cause He has the most caring, concerned and considerate benefits. Hope you feel the same way too. Much LOVE!…as for me and mine…hn!…without a doubt…we’ll definitely follow Jesus…
That’s certainly what we need to do in 2009 Friends! Peter’s calling the early believers to dedicate themselves to a life based on Christian principles. And now, at this tumultuous crossroads of time in our world, my Friends, I want to reissue that call. I want us to rededicate ourselves to living a truly Christian lifestyle. However, knowing all the scripture, doctrine, who said what etc. and putting it into practice are two entirely different things, and we’ll never realize nor enjoy the full value of a Christian life until we sincerely practice the principles in our everyday lives. We’ve already acknowledged that it’s easier said than done, but everything in this world is, yet we still accomplish difficult tasks because we study what we want to do, lay out a plan for it, then discipline ourselves to follow it. It’s like losing weight: We can all lose it, but very few keep it off, because we have to change our lifestyles and become disciplined to the new way, which doesn’t happen overnight or in a short period of time either. Dedication to a true Christian life is exactly the same. We claim to be Christians, followers of Christ, then to be truly that, we must follow Christ’s plan for living, which in its simplest form breaks down to LOVING God, your neighbour and yourself. So where do we start? Obviously by studying the plan; that’s the Bible; the Good Book; the Word. And having studied the guidelines, we start putting them into practice in our lives; one by one, slowly, learning as we go, what works and what doesn’t. That’s why Peter declared: ‘Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind…’ Tighten the belt of your mind; for once the heart has made a conscious decision to follow Christ and His principles for earthly living, then it’s the responsibility of the mind to put that decision into action. It’s the mind’s job to bring the body under control, to do what it takes to make the dream a reality. So we need to discipline ourselves, both internally and externally; think wholesome God-focused thoughts that will lead us to external Christ-like conduct. As Bruh Paul advises: ‘Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true…honest…just…pure…lovely…of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.’ (Phil.4:8) So there we have it in a nutshell people; the things we should concentrate on; those that deal with truth, honesty, justice, purity, loveliness, goodness, virtue and praise. Now once we discipline ourselves to concentrate on those Christian principles, then we have to ‘be sober,’ don’t get too high, or low for that matter, either mentally, emotionally or spiritually, cause if we allow ourselves to get intoxicated on any level, then we’re liable to lose focus and balance, weave all over the place until we crash into no man’s land. It’s just like if we imbibe too much alcohol; it destroys our natural ‘riddim,’ blurs and disrupts both our mental and bodily functions, so that we’re unable to walk a straight line. And Friends, it’s hard enough to walk the Christian straight line sober, just imagine doing it intoxicated, over emotional and unbalanced. And why, you ask, are we putting ourselves through this not easy process that differs considerably from what the world around us eschews as the good life? Because we ‘hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you, at the revelation of Jesus Christ.’ Yes people, it’s the hope of the real good life; the great, unimaginable rewards we’ll receive when Jesus comes back to set up His Eternal Kingdom. Alexandre Dumas said that ‘All human wisdom is summed up in two words: wait and hope.’ And Bruh Paul claims, ‘If we hope for what we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.’ (Rom.8:25) And what are we hoping in patience, waiting in faith for? The New Jerusalem! ‘And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: and I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.’ (Rev.21:1-5) Oh Friends, that’s the salvation, the eternal life we’ve got to look forward to if we embrace Jesus and faithfully follow Him. Sadly though, it’s got be a conscious, personal decision for every human being. No one can make us do, or not do it. What it boils down to people, is who offers the best retirement package; the enemy, with death and eternal damnation, or Jesus, with salvation and eternal life? I’m casting my vote for Jesus, throwing my hat in the ring with Him, cause He has the most caring, concerned and considerate benefits. Hope you feel the same way too. Much LOVE!…as for me and mine…hn!…without a doubt…we’ll definitely follow Jesus…
SCRIP-BITS 