1 Peter 5 Revised Standard Version
7 Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you. 8 Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you. 11 To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
12 By Silva′nus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God; stand fast in it. 13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark. 14 Greet one another with the kiss of love.
Peace to all of you that are in Christ.
First Impressions
I got Shock Therapy from one friend. Not sure where that came from or where we went with it, but it was memorable in and of itself. My first impression is that this is a summary of the whole book and a few personal pieces left at the end.
7 Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you.
- Anxiety: This is underutilized in today’s word. How do we spread this part of the message to those believers around us?
Be an example was the most Biblical response and indicated that we are to lead lives that do not look chaotic in order to draw others closer to a living relationship with God. My original intent was that we take on the task of encouraging our neighbor with this verse. I had a poster with a Panda bear lying in repose with the Phrase: “Relax, God is in charge.” It was defaced by a non-Christian. I was highly agitated, but I did nothing as I figured God was at work.
8 Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
- So, the devil is real and out to get us. Does anyone teach us what to watch for?
Interestingly enough, no one really heard my question. After the speaker at church on Sunday, I knew my question was a good one. In essence, our discussion was how much we as parents needed to do for our kids and that individuals who had not grown up in a Christian home have a very steep learning curve to Christian maturity. Not that the rest of us don’t, but…
9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world.
- If we love others, we want them to believe and if they believe, they will also be a target. Why is the church so weak on teaching us to combat the devil with faith? Or is it?
I do not think it is, but I asked the question to reinforce the fact that every single Christian is called to follow Christ and that doing so will lead to suffering.
10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you.
- Our hope during suffering. Do we lean on this promise? Daily?
I try to. Sometimes, I forget and try to lean on myself. I am not very strong alone. Starting the day with the Lord is the best way to keep on track. Habit, routine, any negative name is counter. It is about having a daily relationship with God and should be a high priority.
11 To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
- Amen
12 By Silva′nus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God; stand fast in it.
- Who is Silva’nus? Peter gives the goal of his letter that we studied months ago. Was he successful?
Silva’nus is simply the companion who wrote the word of Peter when Peter was old and his handwriting had slipped. Maybe this is a way God exalts us for following Him.
This first epistle of Peter was a huge success, if not with his original audience, with the generations that have followed.
13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark.
- Who is this? Mark his son? What?
We read this but did not discuss as it probably really does not matter. The idea is that Christian community is spread out among every group of two or more who gather in his name. We are one church, even if we cannot see it.
14 Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you that are in Christ.
- Is kiss the right word? Peace!
As I kid, I had visions of all the pretty girls when reading this verse. How juvenile. Regardless of the actual meaning, the intent is that we are known to be Christians by the love we show amongst ourselves. It is important that we act this out even more so than loving our neighbor.
While slightly out of character, I wanted to include the following verses as additional references. Anxiety and Fear are concepts God knew we would experience, and these are just two examples of His Word that we can rely on to help us deal with the world. Peter, like Paul, knew the promises God made in the Old Testament and when Jesus was with us. He wanted us to use his letter with the other sources to learn about God, to learn to rely on God, and to lead lives giving Glory to God.
So naturally after studying the life of Peter in the New Testament and now in his first letter, we move to the second. So much to learn.
Matthew 6:25-33
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life?f] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.
Matthew 10:26-33
26 “So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.d] 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s will. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.