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  • Standing Together in the Gospel (1 Peter 5:12-14)

    Pastor Dale Eakes gave me my first big shot in ministry nearly fifteen years ago. He has since gone to heaven and received his heavenly reward. After serving as an interim youth pastor, he saw my potential and gave me an opportunity to serve as the associate pastor. Dale was one of a kind, a preacher amongst preachers and a competent pastor. Working alongside him was one of the greatest honors of my life and when he died it left a huge hole in my heart. Preaching with passion and conviction was a hallmark of his ministry. I sought to honor him with all I said and did and to be united with him in his vision for our congregation. By God’s grace, we stood firm in the true gospel and saw many lives changed.

    The apostle Peter likewise urged his readers to “stand firm” in the “true grace of God” at the end of his first letter to the “elect exiles” scattered abroad (5:12; 1:1). There were many false gospels spreading like a cancer from the lips of false teachers during his day. Setting the record straight, the “Rock” of the church fixes our eyes upon Jesus Christ. The true grace of God is the true gospel of Jesus Christ who is returning to reclaim his bride. Peter envisioned the beauty of this day and led believers to long for it like ice cold water in the desert heat. Several key truths emerge from his teaching to stand firm. First, be ready. We are to be ready at all times for the return of Christ. Second, stay humble. We are to crave humility and despise the poison of pride. Third and lastly, live together. We are to live in unity with other believers.

    Standing firm in the true grace of God is the heartbeat of Peter’s first letter. Just as the first century believers who faced persecution did, believers today are to shape their lives around the Master Potter. As he fashions us into the likeness of Christ, we face the fires of testing from the enemy. As chosen exiles, we are just passing through in this momentary flicker of earthly life. Peter had other brothers in Christ that worked alongside him in gospel ministry. Silvanus, or Silas was likely the carrier of Peter’s letter to the scattered believers (5:12). The apostle wrote: “She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings” (v. 13). This is a reference to the church at Rome. Babylon was a spiritual and symbolic reference to a world power which God opposed. Mark, a spiritual son to Peter, was John Mark who dictated the gospel bearing his name from the heart and mind of Peter (v. 13). Formerly useless to the Apostle Paul, he regained his favor and became an important part in the formation of the New Testament. 

    Peter ends his letter with an appeal for the believers to greet one another in love and with a blessing of peace to all “who are in Christ” (v. 14). Living together in humility brings the unity that Christ honors. Furthermore, unity is forged in the fires of persecution. The “one anothers” of the New Testament are contingent upon self-sacrificial love. Jesus died to create unbreakable unity between believers of all ethnicities, backgrounds, languages and social statuses. We reflect the heart of Christ when we live together anticipating Christ’s soon return. May we be saints who are ready, humble and unified as we stand firm in the grace of God.

    Application Questions:
    1. How can you serve your church better as you eagerly wait for Christ’s return?

    2. What sin in your life prevents you from being fully united with other believers? 

  • Humildad en el Sufrimiento (1 Pedro 5:5–11)

    Un rechazo en una relación. La pérdida de un empleo. Una prueba de salud. El sufrimiento a menudo tiene la manera de humillar a las personas. Después de dirigirse a los pastores, el apóstol Pedro les dice a ellos y a la iglesia que todos debemos humillarnos. Él no nos deja en la oscuridad respecto a lo que significa la humildad. Comienza, en primer lugar, con comprender que estamos “bajo la poderosa mano de Dios” (v. 6). Esto no solo se refiere al poder de Dios, sino también a Su cuidado providencial. Podemos echar sobre Él nuestras ansiedades y luchas porque Él cuida de nosotros.

    Él conoce el dolor que proviene del rechazo. Conoce la pérdida que viene al vivir la vida. Enfrentó las pruebas de la vida, pero no cayó en la tentación del diablo. Esto nos lleva a otro aspecto de la humildad para el cristiano. En medio del sufrimiento, la humildad es un llamado a ser sobrios y a estar alertas. El sufrimiento es un momento en el que podemos volvernos hacia nosotros mismos, inflarnos de orgullo y caer en la trampa de la tentación que Satanás ha tendido para nosotros. Por eso, la sabiduría de la Palabra de Dios debe ser atendida.

    La Palabra de Dios llama a los humildes en el sufrimiento a resistir al diablo y a mantenerse firmes en la fe. La Palabra de Dios llama a los humildes a entender que la vida cristiana no se vive en soledad, sino que hay otros creyentes que también han sufrido. Su sufrimiento y el nuestro se ponen en perspectiva bajo la guía de la Palabra de Dios y dentro del contexto de la comunidad cristiana. El sufrimiento es por un poco de tiempo, pero la gloria en Cristo es eterna.

    Aun así, el sufrimiento que experimentamos en la vida puede doler en el momento. Por eso, el ánimo de saber que estamos humillados bajo la poderosa mano de Dios no produce una reacción de temor, sino una respuesta de esperanza. Debido al poder de Dios, podemos descansar en la verdad de que Cristo es quien nos restaura, confirma, fortalece y establece. El dominio y la gloria pertenecen al Señor. Si buscamos exaltarnos a nosotros mismos cuando enfrentamos el sufrimiento, enfrentaremos humillación. Pero si nos humillamos cuando experimentamos el sufrimiento, Dios mostrará Su gracia y nos exaltará, porque hemos exaltado al que es digno, es decir, a Jesucristo.

    Preguntas para reflexionar:
    • ¿De qué maneras eres tentado a ser orgulloso en tiempos de sufrimiento?
    • ¿Cómo puede la comunidad de la iglesia ayudarse mutuamente a vivir con humildad en medio del sufrimiento?

  • 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?