MENTALLY AND SPIRITUALLY ALERT. 1st Peter 1:13 Perhaps Peter paced for a while before he sat down to write, as the Holy Spirit moved upon him, giving new light to his understanding, so that he could know and tell the saints why suffering is to be expected – why some fell under the painful sword of suffering for righteousness’ sake, and to let them know why the road saints walk is hard to take. But God has a plan, which most certainly will be fulfilled, in which the testimony of suffering will uphold the teaching of grace.
The mind that wanders so easily must be wrapped up tight, as garments are tightened around a body before the actual fight. For actions demand that our scattered thoughts be focused on Him and on the calling He has placed before us. Grace has its demands – faith must be placed in Him, and the controlled mind is then able to overcome sin, keeping us looking ahead – way ahead, in hope, knowing we have only experienced a little of grace’s wide scope.
There is a coming day beyond trials and suffering that hones the mind to a sharpness beyond nature, where we can find the faith to endure life's hardships and die with a sure hope. With Christ as our example, we will truly know why He endured all He did before His revelation. We, too, will testify to a coming day of full salvation from not only the consequences but also the presence of sin, and, by grace, share His glory when His kingdom here is seen.
“Therefore,” we are to live in a manner consistent with our calling. We must actively pursue this lifestyle by first adopting a new mindset that aligns with and supports holy living. This begins with deliberate preparation by “girding up the loins” of our mind. That means we need to do whatever it takes to focus our thoughts on things that enable us to serve God effectively, while eliminating any thoughts and distractions that could trip us up.
To do that, we must be mentally alert, disciplined, and focused on spiritual activity. We need to be ready for action, ready to go. The truth of God is the belt that keeps all other ideas and thoughts in place. A mind girded up is sharp, focused, and disciplined, and is motivated toward holy behavior by the coming of the Lord and by the rapture and revelation of Christ for us and the whole world.
Being prepared starts in the mind. We are to “bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” Whatever controls our thought life determines who we are. The new life God gave us when He saved us doesn’t come naturally; we must actively pursue it. Holy living begins in the mind.
Both the Lord Jesus Christ and the apostle Paul used the image of a girded garment, worn in the same way to avoid hindering movement and useful activity. The truth of God revealed in His word keeps all other thoughts where they should be. Instead of mental and spiritual fog that is unfocused and purposeless, we are to be people who have disciplined our thinking on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report.
Mental sobriety involves clear, task-focused thinking, accurate evaluation, and not being thrown off balance by new or odd ideas. Clear thinking lets us see the world from a biblical perspective, through God’s eyes. When our minds are mentally focused on what God has placed before us, we will not become unbalanced, susceptible, or swayed by ideas, imagination, or human reasoning apart from God.
A self-controlled person can recognize potential dangers in things that appear innocent. Travel, sports, business, and pleasure need not be sinful, but the danger arises when they begin to take control of our minds, then our time, and ultimately our lives. When the word of God is less important than those things, God is displaced in a person’s life, which is sinful. A faithful person is aware of the attractions around him but is not thrown off by them because he is in control of his mind.
“Hope to the end for the grace” that will be revealed reminds us of a future grace, directing our hope toward the coming glory. “The grace” refers to the return of Christ. To focus on that is to keep it in mind in every present situation. The coming of Christ motivates us to live for Him. All our hopes will be fulfilled when our Lord is revealed at His coming. There is a glory that the whole world will see at His appearing, and present-day believers will see at the rapture. This “blessed hope” is not speculation but is grounded in the same clear thinking that motivates holy living. In view of the “Coming of the Lord,” we are to be mentally alert (prepare your minds for action); disciplined (self-controlled); and focused (set your hope fully…).