“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.” --I Peter 1:13

The Apostle Peter suffered greatly under the persecuting hands of the ruthless Roman emperor, Nero. But for the sake of the Gospel, he continued to exhort the first century Christians to be positive. The central theme for I and II Peter is “The Grace of God—living under Trials.” In his first epistle to the churches of Asia Minor , Peter emphasized the grace of God provides salvation; therefore, believers should live in holiness. The grace of God motivates submission; therefore, believers should live in harmony. Lastly, the grace of God sustains during persecution; therefore, believers should live in humility.

In this verse, the word “Therefore” connects the previous thought, which was “Living in Faith.” When we place our hope in the future, it should change the way we live today. Believers’ living hope is based on their new birth that leads to a lifestyle of holiness. Peter exhorted his readers to prepare and meet the challenge of obedience by adopting a new mind-set.            

There are three exhortations in this verse: Prepare your minds for action: Obedience is a conscious choice of the will. Christians need to make a firm commitment, a tough-minded holiness that is ready for action. If our minds are not ready to live according to what the Bible teaches, we will become weaker and weaker. Actions come from the mind.

Be Self-controlled: The word self-control comes from the word sober. The Bible always teaches us to think clearly, which is the meaning of “sober.” It is the opposite of being under the influence of drunkenness. It involves the ability to think clearly under pressure. Rather than being controlled by external circumstances or pressures, believers with eternal hope resist to conform to the world with inner strength and sound judgment.

Set your hope fully: Holy living demands determination. A believer’s hope is to be set perfectly and unchangeably, which is the meaning of the word fully, on the grace of God to be given when Jesus Christ is revealed (His Second Advent). Focus on the grace which we will receive in the future, and things on earth will grow strangely dim.