By Pamela Rose Williams
“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)
When I read today’s verse the first thing that I ask is “What is the ‘wherefore’ there for?” To understand the complete context of this verse we need to look back a little bit because the adverb and conjunction “wherefore” is used as a continuation of a previous thought. It is another way of saying “for this reason”. And so I ask “for what reason?” I had to go all the way back to verse 3 to answer that question. Let’s look back there:
[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, [5] Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: [7] That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: [8] Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: [9] Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. [10] Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: [11] Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. [12] Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. [13] 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 1:3-13)
Peter is giving praise to God for His abundant mercy. Peter is reminding the reader that through faith in what Jesus did on the cross, the believer can look forward to an inheritance that will bring “joy unspeakable”. Even though we cannot see that eternal life, when Jesus comes to redeem us, our faith will be proven when we see Jesus.
In today’s verse the reader is encouraged to keep a clear head (be sober) as we look forward to the coming of our Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Have you met my Savior?
Today’s passage concludes:
[14] As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: [15] But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; [16 ] Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:14-16)
When our mind is clear and free from the things of the world that pollute our thinking it helps us to cultivate our relationship with our Heavenly Father and our brother, Jesus. Now that was one small daily verse and a whole lot of theology in that passage!
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