Just Thinking.........Again

Peter wrote from 'Babylon' to the persecuted church.  Peter's reference to Babylon was in 1 Peter 5:13 is probably a reference to Rome.  With the persecution of the church becoming more and more widespread he probably used this as a code word that the Christians would understand. 

Peter writes the letter to the believers to teach them about living a victorious life in Christ amidst persecution.  These were real hard times and it may well be something we will face in our lifetime, we just don't know.  Peter lets them know it is possible to live as a Christian in these times without bitterness, having hope, and trusting in the Lord daily while we look for and long for His second coming.

1 Peter 1:13-16

¹³Therefore 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."
Peter begins this verse with 'therefore' because he is drawing a conclusion from the previous verses.  The previous verses speak of the incredible salvation and the holiness of God.  They speak of this incredible gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit.  All these awesome things are revealed to us through the prophets and then Jesus Christ.  They are so incredible that even the angels are excited to see what's next. 

'Therefore' or 'now, because of these things' you need to gird up you loins.  Girding up your loins was a gathering of your garment or robe and getting ready to move.  In referring to our mind it means we should be getting our thoughts together.  We shouldn't have loose ends that don't belong.  All our thoughts should be tied up nicely into a proper, biblical view of God (theology). 

So we are to have our thoughts right and be firm in our belief of the Grace that will be brought to us when Jesus comes again.  We are to be sober minded and grow into spiritually mature Christians.  There should be a visible difference in the way we live life verses the unbeliever.  We should live our life in obedience, not legalism, but one of wanting to be holy and ready to meet our Lord.  That's not possible when we are holding onto our sinful nature and living a worldly lifestyle. 

Are you ready to meet Christ?  Peter offers some ways to prepare.

• Prepare your mind for action - See also Exodus 12. 
  
• Be self- controlled.
  
• Set your hope on the grace.
  
• Don't conform to the world. - see also Romans 12:1-2.
  
• Be holy

Does the imminent return of Christ motivate you to change how you live? 

Just Thinking.

Doug