I Peter 4:1-2, Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
I Peter 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.
The call on Christians? A reset mind. A mind that is turned from sin and turned away from the ways of the world rather focused on the will of God.
The call on Christians? To gird up one’s mind which is to gather up the loose ends of thinking about God and truth. It is to think through what is believed and why it is believed so to be able to both declare and defend what is believed.
The call on Christians? To be fully mentally engaged in Christianity. To be thinking, studying, pondering, and working to have right thinking. It is to have a mind grounded in the truth.
The call for a mind overhaul:
Matthew 22:37, Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
II Timothy 2:15, Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Romans 12:2, And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
I Corinthians 14:20, Brethren, do not be children in understanding;
II Timothy 2:7, Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
[THINK over what I say – the Lord gives understanding.]
I Peter 1:10, Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully… 11, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating… 12, To them it was revealed.
The call on Christians is to be mentally engaged – focused on God and on God’s Word so to live, talk, do and think pleasing to God.
And, why this need for a mind overhaul?
Ephesians 2:1-3, And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
Ephesians 4:17-19, This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Colossians 1:21, And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind.
So… gird up the loins of your mind, be sober/serious, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ, I Peter 1:13.
Gird up the loins of your mind: tuck in all the loose ends into your belt so you can fight and run.
NIV – with minds that are alert and fully sober
HCSB – with your minds ready for action, be serious
ESV – preparing your minds for action
The call on Christians is to know God’s will, stand for it and clearly and succinctly declare it.
We have a calling and we have work to do!
a PK Musing 
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