Read 1 Peter 1:13–16
Prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope
fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 1:13
“Prepare your minds for action” (or, “Gird up the loins of your mind”
KJV) simply means, “Pull your thoughts together! Have a disciplined
mind!” The image is that of a robed man, tucking his skirts under his
belt, so he can be free to run. When we center our thoughts on the
return of Christ and live accordingly, we escape the many worldly
things that would encumber our mind and hinder our spiritual
progress.
Not only should we have a disciplined mind, but we should have
a sober and optimistic mind as well. The result of having a spiritual
mind-set is that we experience the grace of God in our life. To be sure,
we will experience grace when we see Jesus Christ, but we can also
experience grace today as we look for Him to return. We have been
saved by grace (Eph. 2:8–9), and we depend moment by moment on
God’s grace. Looking for Christ to return strengthens our faith and
hope in difficult days, which imparts to us more of the grace of God.
Something to Ponder
To what extent do you feel that you “experience the grace of God
in your life”? What might you do to increase your awareness of His
grace?