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  • Humility in Suffering (1 Peter 5:5-11)

    A relationship rejection. A job loss. A health trial. Suffering often has a way of humbling people. After addressing shepherds, the Apostle Peter says to them and to the church that we all should humble ourselves. He does not leave us in the dark with what humility means. It first begins with grasping we are “under the mighty hand of God” (v. 6). This not only means the power of God but His provisional care. We are able to cast our anxieties and struggles on Him because He cares for us. He knows the hurt that comes from rejection. He knows the loss that comes in living life. He faced the tests of life but did not fall into the temptation of the devil. That leads to another aspect of humility for the Christian. In the midst of suffering, humility is a call to be sober-minded and to be on guard. Suffering is where we can turn inside, puff ourselves up with pride and fall into the temptation trap Satan has laid out for us. That is why the wisdom of God’s Word must be heeded. God’s Word calls for the humble in suffering to resist the devil and stand firm in the faith. God’s Word calls for the humble to understand the Christian life is not lived alone, but that there are other believers who have suffered. Their, and our, suffering is put in perspective in the guidance of God’s Word and the context of Christian community. Suffering is for a little while but glory in Christ is eternal. Still, the suffering we experience in life can hurt in the moment. That is why the encouragement that we are humbled under the mighty hand of God does not elicit a fearful reaction but a hopeful response. Because of the might of God, we can rest in the truth that Christ is the one who restores, confirms, strengthens, and establishes us. Dominion and glory belong to the Lord. If we seek to exalt ourselves when we are facing suffering, we will face humility. Yet, if we humble ourselves when we experience suffering, God will show His grace and exalt us because we have exalted the worthy one, namely Jesus Christ.

    Reflection Questions:

    • How are you tempted to be prideful in times of suffering?
    • How can the church community help one another with humility in suffering?

  • Pastoreando en Medio del Sufrimiento (1 Pedro 5:1-4)

    A lo largo del libro de 1 Pedro, hemos observado cómo es que los cristianos sufren por su fe. Hemos visto que debemos seguir el ejemplo de Cristo (2:18–25). Se nos ha dicho que cuando respondemos bíblicamente al sufrimiento por causa de la justicia, bendecimos y somos bendecidos. Hemos sido llamados a sufrir para poder participar en los padecimientos de Cristo y a sufrir conforme a la voluntad de Dios. Sin embargo, si nos limitamos únicamente a esta comprensión, tenemos una visión insuficiente. ¿Por qué? Porque en nuestro sufrimiento como cristianos, en última instancia, no sufrimos solos. Así como la vida cristiana no es una vida solitaria, nuestro sufrimiento tampoco es un camino que recorremos por nuestra cuenta. Dios nos ha dado la iglesia, la congregación de Su pueblo, para edificarnos unos a otros y para ser un testimonio colectivo, especialmente en tiempos de sufrimiento. Esta comprensión y aplicación de la iglesia en tiempos de sufrimiento debe comenzar con el liderazgo. Por lo tanto, el apóstol Pedro empieza allí.

    Pedro dirige su exhortación a estos hombres a quienes Dios ha llamado para liderar, enseñar y supervisar la iglesia. Dice que estos ancianos son “testigos de los padecimientos de Cristo, y también participantes de la gloria que ha de ser revelada” (5:1). Estos ancianos conocen los sufrimientos que Cristo padeció y ahora, como resultado, pueden participar de la gloria que Cristo posee al sufrir por la fe. Pero, en medio del sufrimiento, ¿qué deben hacer estos ancianos? Estos pastores deben vivir su llamado y “pastorear el rebaño de Dios que está entre vosotros” (5:2).

    En medio del sufrimiento, Dios manda a los líderes de la iglesia a pastorear. Los pastores no solo predican. Ciertamente hacen eso, alimentando a las ovejas del rebaño de Dios. Sin embargo, el papel del pastor incluye tanto alimentar como vigilar y cuidar. El pastor es quien alimenta al pueblo con la Palabra de Dios y quien vela por sus almas, observándolas y cuidándolas lo suficiente como para confrontar el pecado y consolar en medio de las dificultades. Esto es a lo que Dios ha llamado a aquellos que están en liderazgo en Su iglesia.

    Dios también ha dirigido en Su Palabra la manera en que estos hombres deben ejercer su pastoreo. Deben pastorear el rebaño de Dios con humildad y honestidad. No lo hacen por obligación, sino voluntariamente. No sirven de esta manera por ganancia deshonesta y vergonzosa, sino con ánimo pronto, en respuesta a la obra de Dios en sus vidas. No se enseñorean de la congregación, actuando como dictadores o como autoridad absoluta. Más bien, los pastores de la iglesia de Dios deben ser ejemplos para el rebaño, para sus congregaciones.

    En medio del sufrimiento, los pastores, en su liderazgo, deben reflejar humildad y honestidad. Viven de esta manera porque reconocen que no son la autoridad suprema. Quien lo es, es Aquel que viene otra vez. Por eso Pedro continúa diciendo: “Y cuando aparezca el Príncipe de los pastores, recibiréis la corona incorruptible de gloria” (5:4). Los ancianos y pastores no son más que mayordomos al velar por sus congregaciones. Hay un solo Pastor principal, y ese es Jesucristo. Si el liderazgo humano de la iglesia es fiel a la tarea que se le ha encomendado y al pueblo que se le ha confiado, entonces recibirá su recompensa cuando el Pastor principal regrese para reunir a todo Su pueblo.

    Hasta entonces, que los líderes de la iglesia, particularmente los ancianos, sean fieles en pastorear al pueblo de Dios en sus congregaciones con humildad y honestidad, y que los miembros de la iglesia mantengan a sus líderes en oración por esta responsabilidad de pastorear en medio del sufrimiento.

    Preguntas para reflexión:

    • ¿Por qué es importante recordar, como cristianos, que vivimos y sufrimos como el cuerpo de Cristo y no meramente como individuos?
    • Para los ancianos en la iglesia, ¿cómo pueden ser más intencionales al liderar y servir con humildad y honestidad? Para los miembros de la iglesia, ¿cómo pueden orar por su pastor mientras él pastorea al pueblo que Dios le ha confiado para supervisar?

  • Shepherding in the Midst of Suffering (1 Peter 5:1-4)

    Throughout the book of 1 Peter, we have observed what it looks like for Christians to suffer for their faith. We have seen we should follow the example of Christ (2:18-25). We have been told when we respond biblically to suffering for righteousness’ sake, we will bless and be blessed. We have been called to suffer so that we may share in Christ’s sufferings and to suffer according to the will of God. Yet, if we limit ourselves to this understanding, we have an insufficient view. Why? Because in our suffering as Christians, we ultimately do not suffer alone. Just as the Christian life is not a lone ranger life, our suffering is not a walk by ourselves. God has given us the church, the gathering of His people, to build one another up and to be a witness collectively, especially during times of suffering. This understanding and application of the church in times of suffering must begin with the leadership. Therefore, the Apostle Peter begins there. Peter directs his exhortation to these men God has called to lead, teach, and oversee the church. He says these fellow elders are “a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed” (5:1). These elders know the sufferings Christ went through and now, as a result, they can partake of the glory Christ has by suffering for the faith. But, in the midst of suffering, what are these elders to do? These pastors are to live out their calling and they are to “shepherd the clock of God that is among you” (5:2). In the midst of suffering, God commands church leaders to shepherd. Shepherds do not merely preach. They most certainly do that, feeding the sheep of God’s fold. The role of a shepherd, however, includes feeding as well as watching and caring. The shepherd is the one who feeds the people God’s Word and who oversees their souls, watching over them and caring enough to confront sin and to comfort when there are hardships. This is what God has called to those who are in leadership of His church to be. He has also directed in His Word how these men are to go about their shepherding. They are to shepherd God’s flock humbly and honestly. They do not do this under obligation, but willingly. They do not serve in this manner for dishonest and shameful gain, but eagerly in response to the work of God in their life. They do not dominate over their congregation, acting as a dictator and a sole power. Rather, the shepherds of God’s church are to be examples to the flock, their congregations. In the midst of suffering, pastors in their leadership are to exude humility and honesty. They live in this way because they realize they are not the ultimate authority. The one who is is the One who is coming again. That is why Peter continues, “And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory” (5:4). Elders and pastors are but stewards in watching over their congregations. There is but one chief Shepherd and that is Jesus Christ. If human church leadership is faithful to the task they have been given and to the people they have been entrusted with, then they will receive their reward when the chief Shepherd returns to gather all His people. Until then, may church leaders, particularly elders, be faithful to shepherd God’s people in their congregations humbly and honestly and may church members keep their church leaders in prayer over this responsibility of shepherding in the midst of suffering.

    Reflection Questions:

    • Why is it important to remember as Christians we live, and suffer, as the body of Christ and not merely as individuals?
    • For elders in the church, how can you be more intentional in leading and serving humbly and honestly? For church members, how can you be praying for your pastor as he shepherds the people God has entrusted him with to oversee?