Tuesday after Oculi Sunday
Posted on March 5, 2024 by under
Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-16 (NKJV)
1:13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
Devotion
“Girding up your loins” is what men did in ancient times to prepare for battle. Their long garments tended to get in the way, so they would tuck them into their belt and secure them. Then they could fight without the danger of tripping and stumbling.
As Christians, we are engaged in spiritual warfare every day. Christ has delivered His people from the kingdom of the devil, but the devil has not given up. If we do not faithfully cling to our Lord for holiness and defense, the Enemy and his wicked spirits will endeavor to take us back under his power.
St. Peter instructs us to gird up the loins of our minds, that is, to be ready for spiritual battle. He tells us to control ourselves, so that our sinful desires do not get in the way and cause us to fall from the faith. If we are perfectly holy, just as God is perfectly holy, then Satan will have no way to attack us. But we know that we are not holy in all of our conduct. We sin daily.
Our own holiness cannot defend us. Instead, we must rely on Christ, whose perfect holiness is ours through faith. We gird up the loins of our minds when we repent of our sins and rest our hope fully upon the grace that is found in Jesus Christ. He is the only One who can keep us safe in the battle ahead.
Collect: We beseech Thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of Thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of Thy majesty to be our defense against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Season of Lent
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
