From Miserable To Motivated

We are going to start by looking at verse 13, then move forward to verses 14-16, and then we will look back to verses 3-12 and tie all of this together. Our main text is vs.13 which, in summation, is saying this: Think ahead so that you will be looking ahead and make it through what is ahead of you because you see what is beyond that.

Now let me frame the whole text for us. You have a hope in heaven (vs.3-5), but here on earth you’ll have heavy trials, yet even in these you can still have joy by looking ahead (vs.6-9). Future grace is what motivated the prophets (vs.10-12). Therefore, since you are aware of these things, get your mind in gear, keep yourself spiritually active and alert and set your mind on future grace (vs.13). Then you will be obedient and not fall back into the old patterns (vs.14), and you will be able to live a holy life in all you do (vs.15-18). If we keep our eyes on the prize, holiness will happen as a way of life.

This is a central concept to our understanding of Christian growth in grace. I want you to be aware that what we are talking about is moving from the indicative of future grace that we see earlier in this chapter, to the imperative of living and moving and growing in that grace now. Peter shows us how it is done. We can see the future, the near and far; these truths are to believe that they may be lived in the meantime.