GIRDED UP!

📖SCRIPTURE:

“Therefore, having girded up the loins of your minds, being unintoxicated, set your hope fully on the grace being brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts of your ignorance, but as the One who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. For it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”

1 Peter 1:13-16

🔎REFLECTION:

Peter’s command isn't to gird up, but to set our hope fully on the grace of Christ. It flows directly from God’s covenantal pattern revealed from Genesis onward. “Having girded up the loins of your minds” (ἀναζωσάμενοι τὰς ὀσφύας τῆς διανοίας) draws on Exodus imagery: Israel girded themselves for the first Passover (Ex 12:11) in readiness to exit Egypt. In the same way, Christ's saints are called to live in the reality of our new identity... no longer sinners, but redeemed saints in Christ, ready for the Lamb of God’s final deliverance (John 1:29; Rev 19:7-9). Being “unintoxicated” recalls Paul’s charge in 1 Thess 5:6-8 to remain sober, awake, and clothed with the armor of faith and love, because the day of the Lord comes like a thief. This is not simply about alcohol; it's about avoiding the hedonistic intoxications of the world (1 John 2:15-17) and the spiritual apathy induced by religious familiarity (Rev 3:1-3).

Proximity vs. Faith

Scripture repeatedly testifies that proximity to the Holy One does not guarantee obedience or saving faith. Adam and Eve walked with God (Gen 3:8) yet rejected His word (Gen 3:6). Noah, though righteous (Gen 6:9), later stumbled in drunken shame (Gen 9:21). Abram obeyed God’s call (Gen 12:4) yet later demanded a sign (Gen 15:2-3). Moses conversed with God “face to face” (Ex 33:11) but was barred from the Promised Land for disobedience (Num 20:12). Aaron’s sons offered unauthorized fire and were killed for it (Lev 10:1-3). Eli the priest and his sons corrupted the sanctuary (1 Sam 2:12-17). Jonah fled the presence of the Lord (Jonah 1:3). Even anointed and appointed kings — Saul, David, Solomon — fell to rebellion (1 Sam 15:11; 2 Sam 11; 1 Kgs 11:4). Judas lived three years beside Christ yet betrayed Him (John 13:18-30). Peter, included in Christ's innermost circle, denied even knowing the LORD three times (Luke 22:54-62).

This chorus of failure reinforces Peter’s point: “Do not be conformed to the former lusts of your ignorance” (1 Pet 1:14). Familiarity with sacred things (idols) hardens rather than softens (Heb 3:12-13). Proximity produces lukewarm religion, which can never replace genuine faith (Heb 4:2); for faith alone produces worship “in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24).

God’s Unilateral Covenant and Christ’s Curse-Bearing

Genesis 15 reveals the heart of the gospel in budding “seed” form. It was standard practice throughout the Ancient Near East for two parties “cut” a covenant. Walking between the divided carcasses signified: “May I be as these animals if I break this covenant.” Yet in Genesis 15:17 it is God alone — symbolized by the smoking firepot and blazing torch — who passes between the pieces. The Almighty binds Himself to bear the covenant curse for the faithlessness of the lesser party (collective humanity). Paul identifies this fulfillment in Christ: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Gal 3:13), echoing Isaiah’s Suffering Servant (Isa 53:4-6). This is why the Cross is no tragic accident but the preordained plan of God from before the story's beginning (Gen 1:1; Rev 13:8; Acts 2:23).

Holiness as Covenant Identity

The Apostle Peter grounds holiness not in something as banal as subjective moralistic self-improvement but in God’s eternally perfect nature: “Be holy, for I am holy” (Lev 11:44; 19:2). This covenantal God bore the curse in His covenant-loyalty (Strong's Hebrew 2617) to redeem a remnant of humanity, that remnant now bears His likeness through our baptism/identity in Christ Jesus. Our justification in Christ invariably leads to our sanctification (Rom 6:1-14) by the Holy Spirit (Phil 1:6). Holiness is our new covenantal identity (Jer 31:33-34; Ezk 36:26-27; Heb 8:10). Jesus’ parable of the proper wedding apparel (Matt 22:11-14) shows that proximity to the feast is not enough. All are invited. Few accept. Fewer still will be found clothed in Christ’s righteousness (Rev 19:7-8). All others will be given over to the sin of their autonomy, rebellion, and self-righteousness.

Testing Ourselves in Light of the Final Revelation

Peter’s imperative to “set your hope fully on the grace being brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 1:13) points forward to the eschaton (last things) when Christ returns (Rev 1:7), not to bear sin, but for those eagerly awaiting Him (Heb 9:28). Eagerly awaiting is not subjective. Scripture reveals it objectively as those who are: 1) joyfully gathering with Christ, 2) intentionally growing together in the faith and reality of God's Son, 3) lavishly giving themselves away to build up His Body & Bride, and 4) intentionally going in the power and unity of the GOSPEL. The grace Peter refers to is not universalism (everyone get's into heaven). It is the consummation of redemption for those who endure in faith until the end (Matt 24:13; Heb 3:14; Rev 2:10).

Jesus warned that many will say, “Lord, Lord,” yet be cast out (Matt 7:21-23). Therefore, 2 Cor 13:5 commands self-examination: “Test yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.” But since “the heart is deceitful above all things” (Jer 17:9), our self-test must be anchored in God’s objective Word (Ps 139:23-24).

In summary, 1 Peter 1:13-16 is both a warning and a promise: God’s people, having been redeemed at unimaginable cost, those having already girded up their minds, are to remain unintoxicated, sober, with our hope fully in, and living holy lives with gratitude and reverence. This is not an earned salvation of merit, but rather the embodiment of it (Phil 2:12-13). For the non-Christian, this is a battle cry to forsake the lies and illusions of neutrality, self-righteousness, and subjective goodness and not only turn to Christ, but to deny self, pick up our cross daily, and follow the King of kings wherever He leads... in faith.

🤺ACTION:

1. Pray Psalm 139:23-24 daily — asking the Spirit to expose areas where “proximity” has replaced true faith.

2. Examine your life through Scripture — not through feelings or comparisons, but through the plumb line of God’s revealed Word (2 Cor 13:5; Heb 4:12), i.e., the sixty-six books of the Bible.

3. Renew your mind (Rom 12:1-2) — be honest about identifying worldly intoxications (philosophies, habits, addictions, influences, lusts) and replace them with biblical truth (Ps 1:1-3; Col 3:16).

4. Commit to active holiness — engage your local church as a functioning member of Christ’s Body and Bride (Eph 5:25-27; 1 Cor 12:12-27), not as a spectator or consumer.

5. Fix your hope on Christ’s return — rehearse the promises of His coming (1 Thess 4:16-17; 2 Pet 3:11-13) as your anchor (Heb 6:19).

6. Test every spirit — apply 1 John 4:1 to discern whether the teachings, doctrines, leadership, and ministry of your church truly align with God’s Word. Don't assume. Evaluate the qualifications of pastors and preachers (1 Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9), the soundness of church doctrine (Acts 17:11; Jude 1:4), and the priorities of church ministry (Matt 28:18-20) to ensure they are, in fact, building up Christ’s Church rather than parachurch agendas and the contemporary lies of worldly “social gospels” (Gal 1:6-9; 2 Cor 11:13-15).

   
   

🙏PRAYER:

Holy Father, gracious Son, and life-giving Spirit — God of eternal Holy Trinity — I am in awe of Your holiness and rejoice in Your mercy and grace. Father, search me and know me; expose every idol and trace of self-righteousness within. Lord Jesus, Lamb slain from the foundation of the cosmos, thank You for bearing the curse and giving Yourself in death to clothe Your Bride in Your perfect and spotless righteousness. Holy Spirit, open my eyes, teach me Your ways, peel away the scales, regenerate me, and renew my heart by the living WORD. Make me obedient as one who girds up my mind, remains sober, setting my hope fully on Christ, and walking in holiness as a devoted member of His Body and faithful member of His Bride. I repent of lukewarm, empty religion and surrender myself wholly to Your sanctifying work. Make me holy, for You are holy. Amen.

Click the following link for a short video version of today's post:

https://youtube.com/shorts/6usk29bd-Dg?feature=shared

Blessings & love,

Kevin M. Kelley

Pastor

BigIslandChristianChurch.com