Introduction to 1 Peter 5:5-14

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/17/2017 8:39 AM

My Worship Time                                                                 Focus:  Introduction to 1 Peter 5:5-14

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  1 Peter 5:5-14

            Message of the verses:  “5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.   8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.  10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 11 To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen. 12 Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! 13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.”

            Dr. Warren Wiersbe entitles this last chapter in his commentary on the book of 1 Peter “From Grace to Glory!”  In this section of his letter Peter writes that trials will be coming to those he is writing to and they will be fiery trials.  Verse ten tells us and his readers that after they had suffered for a while that God who is the God of all grace, the One who called you to His eternal glory in Christ would Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish those Peter was writing to.  Peter knew this was going to happen because the church is in the world and not of the world, and so while in the world there is great conflict with it because believers are different than unbelievers and the conflict will always be there.  This gave comfort to those who first read this letter, and it also gives comfort to those who are going through similar persecutions since Peter wrote it.

            Dr. Wiersbe writes the following as he gives his outline for this chapter:  “As he closed his letter, Peter gave the church three important admonitions to obey if they were to glorify God in this difficult experience.  ‘Be Humble 5-7, Be Watchful 8-9, and Be Hopeful.’” We will begin to look at the first admonitions in our next SD.

7/17/2017 8:56 AM