Gird Up Your Loins

Daily Scripture Threshing for Friday, March 19, 2021

Today’s Text: 1 Kings 18:41-46; 1 Peter 1:13-16

Key Verse: 1 Peter 1:13 — “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;’"

Having returned to this text as many time, one should have perceived the prime lesson from Elijah’s story. Outrunning Ahab’s chariot did not happen in a day. Like all of us, Elijah had his own share of what is called process. He went through the ruthlessness of preparation for the moment. He learned what it means and takes to depend on God. Many of us want to run Elijah’s kind of race: we like to outrun chariots but we hate to bow to simple divine promptings. We cannot bear to eat the ravens bread, and we despise the road to Zarephath.

But as for Elijah, he has a lot more to teach our generation. Not only did he trustfully relied on God; he was deliberate in shedding every besetting weights and encumbrances in the race, and we can know how he did this. The text tells us that he "gird up his loins." This is a deliberate attitude of a spiritual man desiring to lay aside distractions. It indicates how he prepared himself for God to use and aid him.

This is consistent with the admonition of St. Peter that God’s people should "gird up the loins of your mind." This is a metaphor calling us to get ourselves ready for all that the Lord has in stock for us on the journey, long or short, fast or slow. This strengthens us to stay in our race and avoid distractions even though (or when) we see chariots raging and racing ahead of us. It focuses us on God’s ability rather than our disability. It centers our gaze on God’s grace rather human pace. When we gird up our loins, we can outrun any chariot.

Quote for the Day: “The degree, depth and gravity of our faith do not only determine how fast we shall run but how far.” (Simon Olatunji)

Prayer: Dear Lord, strengthen me with your glorious night, and aid me by your spirit. Give me the strength to run the race you set before me, in Jesus mighty name. Amen.

With all my love and prayers,

Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, PhD

The Darling Bishop (DaBishop),

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