A daily spiritual thought | Thursday April 16, 2020

Peter writes in his first letter (1:16): “Be holy, because I am holy.”

In verse 13 he explains what is part of this holiness:
“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.”

When we entered into the new year 2020 not one of us envisioned the situation that we are living in right now:

  • public life has become very restricted;
  • private life has been confined to one’s house or apartment;
  • special regulations govern our daily life

and

  • it is prohibited to hold or attend religious services

Our conversations circle around that one topic –

We are constantly challenged to react to changing circumstances –

Such conditions prepare the ground for

  • irrational actions: Hoarding of toilet paper and noodles (I am not sure what the relationship is between those two items …)
  • and dramatic sermons: “Coronavirus – Pestilence in the Last Days”, et. al.

“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.”

Minds that are alert

and

Fully sober

Alert is in between sleepy and panicking;

Sober is awake;

Alert is recognizing opportunities within hopeless situations;

Sober is sane;

Alert does not fall for every shouting messenger;

Sober seeks to find solutions without becoming hectic.

Alert and sober represent the hope in Jesus!

“Be holy, because I am holy.”

“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.”

Friend,
I pray that you experience God’s grace and love today!

Friedbert Ninow