Are you pro-active or reactive? We basically live life intentionally or defensively (in response to what happens to us). The popular phrase today for an intentional life is purpose-driven.As one convinced of the ultimate purpose of our lives, I believe that "kingdom-driven" best describes that purpose. And what does a Kingdom-driven life look like? A very helpful and practical "snapshot" is found in the following passage:
"prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13)
A kingdom-driven life is firmly grounded in the reality of life while at the same focused on the hope of the Age To Come. Today's reality calls for readiness so therefore it is vitally important to "prepare your minds for action". No athlete would dare go out on the playing field or court without mentally preparing for the game. An athlete has to be ready for action with a mental grasp of defense and offense options. And so in the kingdom-driven life: we need to be mentally prepared both offensively and defensively - ready for the attacks of the enemy as well as ready to seize the Spirit-initiated opportunities.
As kingdom-driven people we also "keep sober in spirit". That doesn't mean we live life with sad, downcast faces and expressions, but rather that we properly assess life's priorities and the world's perspective.
Ultimately, kingdom-driven people fix their hope completely on the grace to be brought to us at the return of Jesus Christ. That hope becomes our fixed navigation point in life.
As a young teenager I once had a job discing a plowed field. The job was pretty simple: disc straight rows back and forth while making sure that the disc was set at the proper depth. At the end of the day I could tell that my employer was less than pleased with my work. My straight rows were anything but straight. I had checked my progress on the tractor that day by looking back where I had been instead of where I was going. I learned the hard way that the secret of discing straight rows was to find an object ahead, across the field, to serve as my navigation point.
In this age of Global Positioning Systems, navigating with pinpoint accuracy is possible whether in traffic, hiking, or steering a ship. The "grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" serves as both our navigation point as well as our source of energy and strength today.
May 1 Peter 1:13 serve as a valuable tool for each of us today as we live kingdom-driven lives.
Steve
"prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13)
A kingdom-driven life is firmly grounded in the reality of life while at the same focused on the hope of the Age To Come. Today's reality calls for readiness so therefore it is vitally important to "prepare your minds for action". No athlete would dare go out on the playing field or court without mentally preparing for the game. An athlete has to be ready for action with a mental grasp of defense and offense options. And so in the kingdom-driven life: we need to be mentally prepared both offensively and defensively - ready for the attacks of the enemy as well as ready to seize the Spirit-initiated opportunities.
As kingdom-driven people we also "keep sober in spirit". That doesn't mean we live life with sad, downcast faces and expressions, but rather that we properly assess life's priorities and the world's perspective.
Ultimately, kingdom-driven people fix their hope completely on the grace to be brought to us at the return of Jesus Christ. That hope becomes our fixed navigation point in life.
As a young teenager I once had a job discing a plowed field. The job was pretty simple: disc straight rows back and forth while making sure that the disc was set at the proper depth. At the end of the day I could tell that my employer was less than pleased with my work. My straight rows were anything but straight. I had checked my progress on the tractor that day by looking back where I had been instead of where I was going. I learned the hard way that the secret of discing straight rows was to find an object ahead, across the field, to serve as my navigation point.
In this age of Global Positioning Systems, navigating with pinpoint accuracy is possible whether in traffic, hiking, or steering a ship. The "grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" serves as both our navigation point as well as our source of energy and strength today.
May 1 Peter 1:13 serve as a valuable tool for each of us today as we live kingdom-driven lives.
Steve
posted by steve @ 9:20 AM
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