" UPGrading My Christian Life ! "

 

1st.Peter 1:13-22  "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; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as HE which hath called you is Holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I AM Holy. And if ye call on the FATHER, WHO without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of CHRIST, as of a LAMB without blemish and without spot: WHO verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by HIM do believe in GOD, that raised HIM up from the dead, and gave HIM glory; that your faith and hope might be in GOD. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the SPIRIT unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:"

     The following four verses contain the little word "up," showing me, in practical ways, how I can UPGrade my Christian experience here on Earth:

     1. "My voice shalt THOU hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto THEE, and will look up" (Psalm 5:3 pictured above) -- I must form the habit of starting the day with the LORD. This sets the tone for the rest of the day. When I begin the morning on the wrong foot, it is difficult to return to the path of consecration. Looking up to GOD at the start of the day is a key that unlocks the door of dependent fellowship.

     2. "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind" (v.13 pictured at top of post) -- the Hebrews wore long, loose robes that they tied up with a girdle or belt in order to toil or travel (Exodus 12:11; 1st.Kings 18:46). I must be ready for the battle of the mind. To upgrade my walk I must first upgrade my thinking (Romans 12:1-3 pictured above). To have the mind of CHRIST I must have my mind thoroughly saturated with the WORD of GOD, thinking GOD's thoughts after HIM.

     3. "Stir up the gift of GOD, which is in thee" (2nd.Timothy 1:6 pictured above). I have been gifted by GOD for the edifying ("building up") of the body of CHRIST. "Stir up" means to "keep ablaze, rekindle, fan into flames." May I beware of carnal coldness. GOD wants me to be zealous and on fire for CHRIST (Revelation 3:19). May I be on guard against anything that would cool down or extinguish my testimony for CHRIST and edification of others.

     4. "Take up [your] cross daily, and follow ME" (Luke 9:23 pictured above) -- to the man carrying his cross to the place of execution, the things of the world no longer have any attraction. May my allegiance be to CHRIST alone, no longer to Satan and his world system. GWZ

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

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