Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13 NABRE
Peter is writing a letter that is shared and read by many communities in Asia Minor. In this section of the letter with the quoted verse Peter is speaking about a new way to live as a member of God’s community. First he writes about hope and holiness, we are called to have hope in the revelation of Jesus Christ. We are charged to act, to live differently. The text “gird up the loins” of your mind and live soberly is a figure of speech which is derived from the ancient practice of tucking in the skirts of one’s robe in order to prepare for some action. Today we might say, “roll up your sleeves.” Peter applies the image of girding the loins to the mind, as a way of saying get your mind ready for action. To live soberly is to be spiritually awake, alert and self-controlled. Peter will call for this sobriety two more times in this letter (4:7; 5:8) Peter continues by encouraging the reader to have hope completely in the grace to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ. We receive grace from God in the present time, but here Peter might be looking forward to the second coming of Christ. We live now in the present energized by our hope of what is yet to come. Just as the people of Israel were called to gird up their loins during the Passover, waiting soberly for deliverance, we are to live in the same posture with our minds alert, waiting for our deliverance.
Peter challenges those reading to live differently that they can be ready should Christ come again to judge. But it is better to live as Jesus proposed always as this leads to a better life.
Do you seek to live a holy life? Are you ready for action in mind and spirit?
Peter challenges those reading to live differently that they can be ready should Christ come again to judge. But it is better to live as Jesus proposed always as this leads to a better life. Share on X#bible’#godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #gird #grace #Peter #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #pray #prayer #goodnews #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways