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GIRD UP YOUR LOINS

"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." (1 Peter 1:13-16 RSV).   "Girding up one's loins" is not an expression that we are very familiar with in the 21st century, but it was a very common phrase in Bible times, and everyone back then knew exactly what was meant by it.   When Peter penned his first general letter to the churches of his time, he was inspired to use this particular phrase to communicate the specific imagery that the people of the time would understand and relate to.     In Bible times the men and women wore long tunics or robes which varied in length.   The women usually wore a longer tunic that rea...
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JESUS WEPT

"When He [Jesus] had heard therefore that he [Lazarus] was sick, He abode two days still in the same place where He was ." (John 11:6).   It appears that as Christians, if we would be wise, then we must become foolish; if we would have power, then we must become weak; and if we would know true life, then we must experience death.   This, of course, runs contrary to all that we think should be true naturally.   Concepts such as these are alien to our natural reasoning, and to all our human inclinations.   We always want to excel, we always want to be blessed, and we always want to have all the answers; but God often works the opposite of what we expect.   Chapter 11 of St. John tells the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead.   Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, very much.   When He heard that His friend was sick, however, Jesus waited two more days before going to him, knowing that Lazarus would die during that perio...
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THE TRIAL OF YOUR FAITH

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God THROUGH FAITH unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  Wherein ye greatly rejoice THOUGH NOW FOR A SEASON, IF NEED BE, YE ARE IN HEAVINESS THROUGH MANIFOLD TEMPTATIONS: THAT THE TRIAL OF YOUR FAITH, BEING MUCH MORE PRECIOUS THAN OF GOLD THAT PERISHETH, THOUGH IT BE TRIED WITH FIRE, MIGHT BE FOUND UNTO PRAISE AND HONOR AND GLORY AT THE APPEARING OF JESUS CHRIST : Whom having not seen, ye love; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” (I Peter 1:3-8).   “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?”   (St. Luke 18:8).   The most valuable p...
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