Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
Summary: Peter draws our attention to our need to approach God properly when we pray so that it is possible to pray.
About five centuries before the birth of Jesus, a king named Xerxes ruled over a large portion of the known world. The Bible says King Xerxes ruled over “127 provinces stretching from India to Cush.” (Esther 1:1) Ancient Cush is Ethiopia today. The span of that empire was nearly three thousand miles, east to west.
In the third year of his reign, King Xerxes displayed the vastness of his wealth by entertaining the “military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces.” (Esther 1:3) the party lasted six months and each official was catered to in whatever manner he desired.
The power of the kingship was immense. When it became necessary for Esther to alert the king to a plot against her people, the Jews, she hesitated. Approaching the king without being invited was dangerous. As she explained to her uncle:
“All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives.” (Esther 4:11 (a))
You and I have been summoned.
Jesus, our King, says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
We are summoned, but this invitation is not to be taken lightly. Our Lord is not the only king over all the provinces of the earth but of all Creation. Our king says, “No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” (Isaiah 43:13 (b))
Allow me to rephrase today’s text:
Therefore, don’t be distracted or drunk so that you may pray.
Please don’t misunderstand. For the weak, the misguided, and the lost, God still calls to us. The distracted and the drunk are loved by God, too. He cares for all of us.
Yet, for those of us who have accepted Christ and are transformed by his Word and His Holy Spirit, Peter challenges us to be mindful when we come into the presence of our King.
It is hard to pray if you are distracted. God knows if it is you speaking or the alcohol. Be mindful of whom you are talking to when you come into the presence of the King.
Application: God is not a toy or a star to wish upon. God is our King as well as our Father. Be mindful of that fact when you pray.
Food for Thought: The context for this passage is, ”The end of all things is near.” (1 Peter 4:7 (a)) How does this context affect today’s passage?
I appreciate the devotion brother. I appreciate the emphasis on the fact that we pray to a holy King and Lord. Thus, we should be holy (set aside for His purposes, separate, distinct) because He is holy (Leviticus 11: 44). To be useful to our Master, we are to cleanse ourselves of what is dishonorable (2 Timothy 2: 20 – 21). This is another way of saying we need to be alert and if sober mind.
We are to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5: 17). As we see the day approaching for our Lord to return, all the more reason to set our attention on Him and to pray for the lost, pray for the church to be holy, pray for the repentance of our nation. Prayer is an appropriate response to the needs that we see all around us. It also reminds us of who we are depending on and where we need to place our hope and trust. Creating the right environment for our heart and mind to pray is as important now as ever.
Thank you, Rich!
I was humbled as I thought about Peter’s words and how casually I often come to prayer. As you point out, God wants us to “pray continually,” so this is not an excuse not to pray. Rather, I am reminded that I am always before God and should act accordingly.
Thank you Jeff and Rich. I’m getting better at praying and trying to let the holy spirit work through me. I had a conversation with a Mrs. T*****…. she was distraught because of no late service and with work that’s the only one that worked for her. I prayed for her to find something then I went to give her contact info and in the church flyer, we found something that worked for her. I need to stop worrying and just pray more then let the holy spirit guide me in my actions. I smile after he uses me for helping and making others happy. I’m thankful for all the believers in my life helping me on this walk. You guys/and girls are great examples of our Lords love and care.
Tim,
It is wonderful that you are learning to turn to our Father in the ways you describe. I am always a bit envious of David in the Old Testament stories because he is so good at doing that. I am trying to do better, too!
Prayer is conversation with God; the interaction of the soul of man with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in a direct one on one relationship with Him as any child would talk with his father. Our prayers with God may be silent or spoken, occasional or constant, impulsive or formal. Paul wrote our interaction with our Holy God is to be a way of life. Rejoice always, PRAY WITHOUT CEASING, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you
Jesus tells us to live in Him and He will live in us.
“ABIDE IN ME” , and “I IN YOU”. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. And John wrote, the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. To abide in Christ we must be Holy.
Paul wrote that we accomplish this as we “Walk in the Holy Spirit”
But I say, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. To walk in the Spirit means that we yield to His control, WE FOLLOW HIS LEAD, and we ALLOW HIM TO EXERT HIS INFLUENCE OVER US.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, John 15:4,1 John 2:6, Galatians 5:16,Galatians 5:25.
I think Peter has written we must be ALERT, SOBER MINDED, to live in the Holy Spirit and grow as we live in spiritual contact with Him, not by appointment, but continually as we question, are taught and experience life changing growth in Christ.
Thank you, Ron!
I added a link to the verses you shared. Great perspective!
Thanks Jeff
Well if the end is near,..I would want to be sober minded to see Christ when He shows back up on the scene,..I want to be sober when I pray, for one to remember what I prayed about and two just Who I am praying to,..Christ was sober on the cross and felt all the abuse and pain,..we are kind of in the same boat in a way,..we feel the abuse from others and so we pray for those that have hurt us,..if we were drunk in praying for them I am sure it wouldn’t be a prayer in love,..
I thank God that He understands my groans when I pray,..because I really don’t care for the devil listening in on the prayers to our Holy God,.. I feel that he uses our prayers against us,..I mean he is the deceiver after all,.. so if I talk in code only God understands what I am saying,..and the devil,..well he loses again,..
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” (Romans 8:26 )
Thank you, John. Great reference!
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Tim, Thank you for reaching out To J. T. I forgot about how that could affect her. I appreciate you being there. You loved your sister deeply by your actions. But that is for tomorrow’s post that somehow got leaked tonight (but now it is down) 😉.
I’m glad you figured out who it was. I didnt get her contact info but gave her everything I had for information. The Holy Spirit really stepped in on this one.