“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13).
Last week we shared devotions regarding growth through suffering. Sometimes when Christians face trials and testings, their growth is halted. They can’t get past the suffering. They can’t grasp that in comparison to eternity, suffering lasts only a short while. They have lost hope and tend to give up in their upward journey.
Prior to today’s verse Peter had shared about the greatness and glory that Christians can look forward to in the future. John Wesley wrote these notes about today’s verse. “ Wherefore—Having such encouragement. Gird up the loins of your mind—As persons in the eastern countries were wont, in traveling or running, to gird up their long garments, so gather ye up all your thoughts and affections, and keep your mind always disencumbered and prepared to run the race which is set before you. Be watchful—As servants that wait for their Lord. And hope to the end– Maintain a full expectation of all the grace. The blessings flowing free favour of God. Which shall be brought to you at the final revelation of Jesus Christ—And which are now brought to by the revelation of Christ in you.”
I remember a children’s chorus with these words, “With Christ in the vessel we can smile at the storm as we go sailing home.” Get a mindset of hope. One day soon we’ll be sailing for our eternal home.
Sue Winchester
Missouri
PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the Norman Richards family, former FWBIM missionaries to Cote d’Ivoire and FWBHM missionaries to Louisiana. Norman gained an entrance into glory last Thursday morning after a battle with cancer. Remember his wife Bessie, sons Gene and Randall and their families during this difficult time.
