God Speaks
And now, a word to you elders of the church. I, too, am an elder; with my own eyes I saw Christ dying on the cross; and I, too, will share his glory and his honor when he returns. Fellow elders, this is my plea to you: 2 Feed the flock of God; care for it willingly, not grudgingly; not for what you will get out of it but because you are eager to serve the Lord. 3 Don’t be tyrants, but lead them by your good example, 4 and when the Head Shepherd comes, your reward will be a never-ending share in his glory and honor.
5 You younger men, follow the leadership of those who are older. And all of you serve each other with humble spirits, for God gives special blessings to those who are humble, but sets himself against those who are proud. 6 If you will humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, in his good time he will lift you up.
7 Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.
8 Be careful—watch out for attacks from Satan, your great enemy. He prowls around like a hungry, roaring lion, looking for some victim to tear apart. 9 Stand firm when he attacks. Trust the Lord; and remember that other Christians all around the world are going through these sufferings too.
10 After you have suffered a little while, our God, who is full of kindness through Christ, will give you his eternal glory. He personally will come and pick you up, and set you firmly in place, and make you stronger than ever. 11 To him be all power over all things, forever and ever. Amen.
12 I am sending this note to you through the courtesy of Silvanus who is, in my opinion, a very faithful brother. I hope I have encouraged you by this letter, for I have given you a true statement of the way God blesses. What I have told you here should help you to stand firmly in his love.
13 The church here in Rome—she is your sister in the Lord—sends you her greetings; so does my son Mark. 14 Give each other the handshake of Christian love. Peace be to all of you who are in Christ.
Peter
Source: The Living Bible: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: In this final portion of his letter, Peter instructs both the older and younger leaders in the churches to whom he is writing. Peter tells them to be good shepherds and to keep in mind both Jesus Christ’s suffering and His glory. He focuses on God’s grace and obedience (both Christ’s and theirs). He wanted them to participate in both just as he himself had. These leaders needed to be alert and involved in every area of their society; to be truly humble servant-leaders who were not in it for the money, the fame, or the power. They were to faithfully serve both their people and God. Their lives were to be good examples for their own and future generations. They should prepare to endure hardships because they were looking forward to the eternal reward God had reserved in heaven for them through both their and Christ’s obedience. These leaders of churches under persecution were to be humble so they that would not have to face God’s wrath. The best way to do that was to continually turn everything (good, bad, ordinary, or ugly) over to the Lord. Even though God already knew their situation, believers needed to consciously recognize and release it. Then they would be able to stand strong against that roaring lion, Satan. They were to trust Christ and remember that believers around the world were facing similar difficulties. Peter taught that at just the right time, Christ would return, lift their heads, and personally comfort and strengthen them. To Him be all power over all things forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer: Dear all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving Father-God, thank You for knowing, protecting, and loving me. Please guide both the older and younger leaders in Your church. Help them, like Peter, to keep in mind both Jesus Christ’s suffering and His glory. Thank You that, by Your grace and obedience (both Christ’s and ours), we will participate in both just as Peter did. Please raise up leaders in every area of our society (religion, business, government, media, education, families plus sports, entertainment, and the arts). They must be truly humble servant-leaders, who are not in it for the money, the fame, or the power. May they truly serve people and You. May their lives be good examples for current and future generations. May they endure hardships because they are looking forward to the eternal reward You have reserved in heaven for them. This is through both their and Christ’s obedience. [Make me that kind of leader as well.] Keep us humble so that we will not have to face Your wrath. The best way I see to do that is to continually turn everything (good, bad, ordinary, or ugly) over to You. You already know it, but I need to consciously recognize and release it. Then I will be able to stand strong against that roaring lion (liar) Satan. I will trust You, Lord, and remember that believers around the world are facing similar difficulties. At just the right time, Christ will return, lift our heads, and personally comfort and strengthen us. To Him be all power over all things forever and ever. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, which one of these He wants you to work on or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will ask God to show me which area of society He wants to use me to influence for Him, then do as He directs.
- I will do something specific today to be a good example to my own and future generations.
- I will make a point to pray daily for persecuted Christians around the world. (Operation World, Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs are good resources for this.)
- I will praise God and declare that Christ Jesus has all power over all things forever and ever. Amen.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.