Daily Devotional – Sunday, August 21, 2022
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.
1 Peter 1:13 (NKJV)
The Oriental flowing dress was a popular outfit in the First Century. When a man was resting, he would let the dress down. However, when he needed to act, he would gather up the dress, an action metaphorically called ‘girding up loins’.
For example, in First Kings 18:46, we read, “Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.” In this context, the phrase meant ‘running’.
Gird Up the Loins of Your Mind
The Phrase also appears in Job 38:3, when God tells Job, “Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.” (KJV). Here, God is asking Job to prepare a rebuttal to God’s upcoming statements.
Centuries later, Apostle Peter used the same phrase in his epistle, saying, “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.” (1 Peter 1:13).
Fix the Mind on Things Above
Peter is urging Christians to be on alert always. We are to remain sober because Satan is out to influence our minds against the will of God. Peter echoes Solomon’s caution, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23).
We must keep our minds from wandering into prohibited territories because the devil will find opportunities to entice us from God. For example, we should choose carefully the books and magazines we read, the music we listen to and the television programmes and movies we watch.
As we await the blessed hope of Christ’s Second Advent, let us fix our minds on things above. Let us allow God’s Spirit to control our thoughts, affections, words and actions.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to be alert and sober against the wiles of Satan as I await Your return.
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