The apostle Peter stated in I Peter 1:13, ÒWherefore 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.Ó Thayer states that the words Ògird upÓ mean: 1) to gird up, 2) metaph. be prepared, 2a) a metaphor derived from the practice of the Orientals, who in order to be unimpeded in their movements were accustomed, when starting a journey or engaging in any work, to bind their long flowing garments closely around their bodies and fastened them with a leather belt. Peter proclaims that they were to gird up the loins of their minds. Those be addressed, as well as people today, were to collect all improper thoughts and feelings and restrain from them so that their journey to heaven will not be impeded. We are not to have our minds encumbered with the world. Several translations have the idea of Òprepare your minds for action. We are going to have to think as children of God. Our thinking needs to be centered on the right object. Paul recorded these words in Colossians 3:1,2, ÒIf ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.Ó He would also say to the church at Philippi, ÒFinally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these thingsÓ (Philippians 4:8). Right living is based upon right thinking. We have to get our minds centered on the proper spiritual things, so that we can truly be sober, be self-controlled. When the mind is clear, the result is going to be good judgment. We hear people say, ÒI was not thinking clearly,Ó or ÒWhat was I thinking?Ó One of the problems is stated in this letter from Peter. I Peter 1:14, ÒAs obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:Ó We hold on to just a little bit of the world so that we do not appear to be to Òreligious.Ó We want some of the world in our lives and this attitude is a dangerous one for us spiritually. Gird up the loins of your mindÉ
IsnÕt whatÕs in a personÕs
heart more important?
The idea that church attendance is not important
would have seemed strange to the first century Christians. From the churchÕs
beginning, they met together to worship God. Luke described the early church in
Acts 2, saying that they Òcontinued stedfastly in the apostlesÕ doctrine and
fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.... And they, continuing
daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house,
did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and
having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such
as should be savedÓ (Acts 2:42, 46-47). Paul wrote, ÒHow is it then, brethren? when
ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm...Let all things be done unto
edifyingÓ (1 Corinthians 14:26). Obviously, they loved to and expected to Òcome
together.Ó
Some argue, however, that just Ògoing to churchÓ
does not make one a Christian, and Ògoing to churchÓ doesnÕt have that much to
do with the kind of person one really is. There is no doubt that simply Ògoing
to churchÓ does not make one a Christian, and it is also true that the kind of
person one really is, is very important. But these arguments are really
irrelevant, because God has commanded that they who would be pleasing to Him
must meet together to worship Him. Jesus said, ÒGod is a Spirit: and they that
worship him must worship him in spirit and in truthÓ (John 4:24). There is a ÒmustÓ
about worship to Almighty God.
If one does not do what God has commanded, he sins.
Jesus also said, ÒIf ye love me, keep my commandmentsÓ (John 14:15). Failure to
worship with the church shows a lack of love for the Lord. The Hebrews writer
said, ÒLet us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but
exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approachingÓ
(10:24, 25). How can a Christian Òprovoke unto love and to good works,Ó or be
provoked unto love and to good works, when forsaking the assembling of GodÕs
people?
Every member of the body is needed for the worship
services. ÒFor as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members
of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one
Spirit are we all baptized into one body...For the body is not one member, but
manyÓ (1 Corinthians 12:12-14). The absentee misses the opportunity to join
with other Christians in singing praises to God, offering corporate prayer to
God, and in giving to God as he has been prospered. He misses the opportunity
to learn from and profit from exhortations from GodÕs Word. Can anyone really
say that he is better off by not participating in the worship of the church?
The willful absentee sins against the God of heaven, denies himself the
blessings of God, and hurts the church, the bride of Christ. Think about it...
--By Bob Prichard. Thebible.net .This item originally appeared at House to House/Heart to Heart (v.8 n.3 May/June 2003)