It always amazes me how quickly Monday turns into Friday. One moment, the week is just beginning, and the next, we are heading into the weekend. Every year, time seems to go by more quickly than the year before. The reality is that time is passing by more quickly than we could imagine. That means that each day on earth matters, especially for followers of Christ. Because time is short, we must treat each moment that we have as significant, with our minds and hearts focused on what matters most: Christ and His kingdom.
Peter encourages Christ-followers to live purposefully in light of the truth that our time on earth is short in 1 Peter 4. In this passage of Scripture, he wrote, “The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers” (verse 7). Because this earth is fading away with each day, we have to be both earnest and disciplined in everything we do, especially in our prayer lives. The New International Version says it this way, “Be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray” (verse 7). Being “alert and of sober mind” means being aware that our time is short and focusing on Christ and His kingdom, which will never fade away. When we live this way, we live with self-control, and we don’t let our emotions rule us. Instead, we focus on knowing Christ and making Christ known. We also pray. We pray earnestly. To pray earnestly means to pray with a sense of eagerness and a profound sense of urgency because we know each moment matters. Having a "sober mind" means that the things of this world do not sway us. We are focused and clear about the things that truly matter. When we pray with a sober mind, we pray specifically and fervently, knowing that God hears us and responds when we pray.
My friend, our time here on earth is short. We have no time to waste. Let's set our hearts and minds on Christ and His kingdom. Let's commit to living and praying earnestly with discipline, choosing to live our lives for what matters most and will never fade away: Christ and His kingdom.
Follow the instruction from 1 Peter 4:7 today and “be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.” Specifically, pray with dedication and enthusiasm against the spiritual warfare taking place around you. Pray for the people in your life who are facing difficulties. Pray for the people in your life who do not know Christ to come to have a relationship with Him. Commit to making “earnest and disciplined” prayers a habit in your life.
So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. 2 You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. 3 You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.
4 Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. 5 But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead. 6 That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit.
7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.
