Read 1 Peter 1:13-16
“Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves.” – 1 Peter 1:13
That’s right Allen Iverson, we talkin bout practice. For the last 6 months, the Steelers and Packers have spent 6 days a week preparing to play, and 1 day a week playing. This week is no different. Film study. Conditioning. Drills. Walk-throughs. Why? So their bodies and minds are prepared for action. If they were to spend an entire week playing video games and eating Cheetos, they would not be ready to play on Sunday. But they’d probably be ready for a video game tournament.
Anything we do well, we do because we disciplined ourselves to practice it. Whether it’s athletics, music, baking, or preaching, we need to practice if we want to be prepared to excel at something. And practice takes a lot of discipline.
It’s the same way with the Christian faith. Being a disciple requires discipline – that shouldn’t be any surprise since they come from the same root word. If we want follow Christ, we must discipline ourselves to daily practices that help shape us in the way of Christ. We must be disciplined in how we use our time, how we manage our finances, and how we relate with others.
If we do not discipline ourselves to regular spiritual practices – prayer, study of scripture, worship, communion, meditation, and others – then we cannot expect to be prepared to encounter God on Sunday. If we do not prepare, then we will not be ready for the things God has called us to in this life and the next.
Some translations of 1 Peter 1:13 read, “Gird up the loins of your mind.” That’s some pretty strong language of preparation. Get ready! Discipline yourself to prepare so that when Christ calls you, you are ready to respond!
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