Prepare yourself mentally for action – For the act of walking away from your past life and satisfying your own desires. Make a clean break from sin, even as Christ’s finished work on the cross dealt once and for all for sin.
Boldly walk into a new life marked by grace– A life that desires to do the will of God.
- A life framed by prayer;
- A life of generosity and hospitality;
- A life of service where you use your gifts in the workplace as faithful stewards of God’s grace. Serving with the strength God provides.
- A life of gracious speech where in every situation you only speak the words of God, words of life, words of hope, words of joy, words of peace, words of love.
- A life rooted in deep love for all other believers. For together we are being built up into a spiritual house, a holy royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession. Our love for each other needs to be as constant and enduring as the word of God that lasts forever. When you love other Christians you enable them to be a reconciling presence in their workplace, you enable them to love, you enable then to offer hospitality – you enable them to serve with the gifts God has blessed them with.
When you are willing to suffer for the good of others; when you are willing to put the interest of others before your own; before your career interests, before your financial interests; then you become a reconciling presence in the workplace. Then you are done with sin in your life.
Choose to live this way so that God may be praised through Jesus Christ. Choose to live a life marked by grace for God’s glory. You are able to live this way because God has filled you with the power to live this way.
Prayer
Gracious Father, thank you for your grace. Help us to live our lives today to your glory and honor so that in all things you may be praised. Amen
Scripture– 1 Peter 4:1-11 NIV
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result,they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body,but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
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