GIRD YOUR LOINS: WITH COURAGE!

We are still studying Luke 12 and, in particular, the phrase GIRD YOUR LOINS! We find it used in conjunction with work, with a foot race and with battle. It brings with an air of preparation which is the first hallmark of Diligence! (Which is how we got here) The last study we found that we were commanded to GIRD our LOINS or get ready and be prepared by building a foundation in TRUTH. Not just any truth but THE TRUTH. This means, not only, the authoritative Scriptures aka the Word of God, but also the source of that authority, the person of Jesus Christ himself! Now we come to another instance of the phrase GIRD YOUR LOINS and another explanation and definition of the phrase and what it means to us Christians.

JEREMIAH 1:17 “Therefore prepare yourself (GIRD YOUR LOINS) and arise, And speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, Lest I dismay you before them

Here we have a part of the commission of the young Prophet, Jeremiah. He was a young man and, like many of the great men of God and, even , most of us, he came with a boat load of excuses, concerns and doubts as to his ability to serve the way God was calling him to serve. God, of course, countered all arguments and put the nail in it by telling him not to worry about what he says or does that he will give him the words. This is echoed in Luke 12. After warning those around about becoming hypocrites like the Pharisees, he tells them who to fear and who not to fear. LUKE 12: 4-5 4 “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! While Jeremiah is looking for all sorts of others to be afraid of, what they will think, say or do, God sets the record straight and tells him to focus on the one who has all the power. And, in Luke, he reiterates it by pointing out that man can only kill the body, God has greater power over a vastly more eternal domain. In other words, HE, God, has the power over heaven and hell. It puts things into perspective. We humans worry way too much about the temporary and the finite. God is all about the eternal and the infinite. To GIRD YOUR LOINS, you must find courage by focusing on the true power in your life! ​So, too, must the Diligent Christian in his preparation to continue the ministry God has set before him focus first of all, on the God of all creation and what he wants to do and CAN do in your life. If we followed the first step, we are over halfway there already. Building our foundation upon God's Truth and His Son will ensure that we will have the source material to show us where the focus of our life should be. LUKE 12:11-12 11 “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Once you know your source, there is no question about finding the courage to go out and face those who would mock or persecute you. Here, Jesus continues to tell those around to not worry about having something to say when the time comes. Just like with Jeremiah, he would supply it. No, let me be clear here. When God tells Jeremiah and Jesus, his disciples, not to worry that he will give them what they need, he isn't telling us not to prepare. Far from it! He would never give out the battle cry, "GIRD YOUR LOINS!", if he didn't expect us to prepare for battle. So, bone up on the Word of God and absorb the Truth daily and you will be founded and ready to fight, to race, to work! The point here is that we don't have just our ability to absorb and learn the TRUTH and our talent to express it to rely on here. We have the Holy Spirit and the power of God in our lives to back us up. Therefore, we have nothing to worry about. So, we can have courage no matter what circumstances we get in. We are to study to show ourselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15). God delivers a warning to Jeremiah that we Christians today must heed. Jeremiah 1: 17 17 “Therefore prepare yourself and arise, And speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, Lest I dismay you before them. If we proceed with fear and ignorance through lack of preparing, we will probably 'be dismayed' aka fall before them in fear. God says if we fail under pressure because of fear of the men, he will 'dismay you' or humble you before them. So, bottom line? GIRD YOUR LOINS! Prepare for battle! Get ready for work! Warm up for the race! If you do this right, you will be grounded in Truth and full of courage in the grace and power of our Father, God.