03/05/2024
Sober words from my reading this morning;
Mark 13:13 “And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
The principle of earnest devotion is clear. We do both, we rely wholly and only upon God’s grace and mercy in Christ AND we commit ourselves to earnestly and zealously honor the Lord with our lives.
A few verses later Jesus warns His followers: “22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.”
Why doesz he say these things? Because it is what we need to hear and do to be armed and prepared for our future trials and tribulations.
The Apostle Peter makes the same point:
13 ¶ Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
Despite how these verses are typically translated, there are just two imperative verbs in these verses: “rest your hope fully on the grace…” and “be holy in all your conduct.”
It seems to me that what these verses teach is encapsulated in the song, “Trust and obey for there if no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”
