1 Peter 1:13-15 NLT
So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.
“So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control.”
When we submit our hearts to Jesus Christ, things in our lives will change. If that has not happened, bring it before God and ask Him to do that work in you.
Our desires should change. What we focus on should change. What we allow into our minds should change.
This is not about works as the path to salvation. We are made right with God only by faith in Jesus Christ.
As my pastor often reminds us, “Jesus accepts us just as we are, but He loves us too much to leave us there.”
Galatians 2:16 NLT
Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.
Romans 3:28 NLT
So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
Romans 11:6 NLT
And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.
These verses confirm that He accepts us as we are. Faith comes from God. When that faith leads us to trust Jesus, we are saved.
From that point, the real work begins.
We become a servant of our Savior. That is how the early leaders of the church described themselves. It should be how we see ourselves as well.
2 Peter 1:1 NLT
This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.
James 1:1 NLT
This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings!
Romans 1:1 NLT
This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News.
Jude 1:1 NLT
This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ.
For the Christian, we have been given a commission.
Matthew 28:19-20 NLT
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
“Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.”
To fulfill that part of the mission, we must know and understand the commands. That requires study of Scripture. It also requires that the Word become part of who we are and what we do.
It was said of Jesus that He spoke with authority.
Matthew 7:28-29 NLT
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.
This does not mean you must become a Bible scholar. It does mean you must be grounded in what you believe.
1 Peter 3:15 NLT
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.
What Speaking with Authority Looks Like
Luke gives us the pattern in the opening of Acts.
Acts 1:1-2 NLT
In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit.
“Jesus began to do and teach.”
Jesus spoke with authority and drew crowds because of His character. It was the way He lived. It was what He did.
Psalm 86:5 NLT
O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
When we live submitted to Jesus Christ, our character should change as well. What we do should change. Our thoughts and attitudes should change.
If they are not changing, it is often because we are neglecting God’s Word. When we neglect Scripture, we leave room for other voices to shape our behavior, thoughts, and attitudes.
For me, this time in the Word happens while others in the house are still sleeping, before the day begins. If I put it off, the day’s activities take its place. That is exactly what Satan wants. He does not want the Christian in the Word, because he knows a believer who studies Scripture will change.
Joshua 1:8 NLT
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
Your life will speak louder than the words that come out of your mouth.
If you want to influence the people around you—if you want to teach them to obey the commands—you must:
- Know and understand the commands.
- Live those commands. This is the more important of the two.
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me the faith to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.
I pray that the way I live reflects the saving grace of my Lord and Savior.
And I pray that my life is a reflection of Your Word.
I pray that You open my eyes to any area of my life that does not line up with Your commands, and that You give me the strength and courage to change it for Your glory.
And I thank You for the hearts of those around me. I pray that they come to know You as Lord and Savior. Give me the willingness and compassion to minister to their needs as Jesus does for His church—with gentleness and humility of heart.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!! 🙏❤️
