Time for Grace-September 14, 2024

Time for Grace-September 14, 2024

1 Peter 1:13-16

Therefore, after preparing your minds for action by exercising self-control, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. Rather, just as the one who called you is holy, so also be holy in everything you do. For it is written, “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Dear Heavenly Father,

We are to prepare our minds for action, ready for when Jesus comes again; we are to change how we live in the world and react to others. Faith is the key to making this change.

Without faith, one does whatever one wants, deterred by the punishment of law or concern for one’s reputation; they might even criticize you and your word as oppressive. They conform to all the evil desires they choose and live in ignorance of the truth.

However, faith in Jesus changes everything. In faith, we realize our sins and the consequences that go with them. Each of our sins is an eternal death sentence, separated from you for eternity, but Jesus changed all that when he came to earth, took on human flesh, lived the perfect life, and died an innocent death on the cross. In his salvational work, he removed sin so that all who believe are declared not guilty.

By faith in Jesus, our hearts are changed, and we realize your love for us. This causes us to realize our sins, exercise self-control, and set our sights on you and our salvation. Forgive us when we fail at being self-controlled and sin. Let us look to Jesus, who forgives us all our sins and gives us his righteousness. So that by faith alone in Christ, we are holy just as you are.

Let our obedience and self-control serve as a witness to the love you have for us and all people, that those who see us would ask about the hope we have in you. Please change their hearts to be ones of faith so they, too, will know and trust in you and have salvation and eternal life. Amen.

Written through Pastor Roger Emmons

Forgiveness of sins, salvation, and eternal life are gracious gifts brought to you through faith in Jesus. Live by faith in Christ and as a response to the love God has for you.