1 Peter 5
September Memory Verse: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)
Read: 1 Peter 5
Peter at the end of chapter 4 reminds us that trials are part of this world. Just to recap, he instructed us:
1) Don’t be surprised by trials (v.12a)
2) Rejoice and be glad in your trials (v.13a)
3) Understand trials are used for good in your life (v.13b)
As we enter 1 Peter 5, Peter has some more encouraging words for us… GOD IS GOOD & HE CARES DEEPLY FOR YOU, EVEN IN THE HARDEST CIRCUMSTANCES.
How do we know this? If we are honest, we have questioned this last month. I know there were days for me where I felt like David, “God, why have you forsaken me? Here is the really good news… HE HAS NOT.
I see this all throughout 1 Peter 5. Peter, after speaking about trials, drops some encouraging truths and instructions:
1) GOD HAS PLACED LEADERS IN YOUR LIFE TO CARE FOR YOU (v.1-5)
Leadership in our lives is a precious gift from God, one that we often overlook. God did not simply put leaders in our lives to tell us how to live but to shepherd and care for us deeply. We should lean into them. We should look to them and let them do their God-assigned task - shepherd, care, and invest.
2) RUN TO JESUS, BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU (v.6-7)
We never have to wonder if God has our best in mind. We never have to wonder if God listens to our cries. We never have to wonder if God cares for us. He tells us He does. We must run to Him. He is the only one who can truly care for us and minister to us in the way we need.
As my dad would say, “Run to your heavenly Father and crawl up into His arms and let Him care for you…”
3) PUSH FORWARD (v.8-11)
What Satan wants is for trials to stop us dead in our tracks. He wants trials to make us useless for the kingdom of God. Though he cannot take away our salvation, he wants to incapacitate us to live for Jesus. But what Peter encourages us is,
“Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that that same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 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, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
What encouraging words. Strong commands. Resist Him. Firm in your faith. And then he reminds us we are not alone. We can band together as the church. We can look to Jesus.
He will restore..
He will confirm.
He will strengthen.
He will establish.
Lets cling to this today. Jesus is present. He is good. He is close. Let’s push forward, running to Him.
By: Nick Parsons
Read: 1 Peter 5
Peter at the end of chapter 4 reminds us that trials are part of this world. Just to recap, he instructed us:
1) Don’t be surprised by trials (v.12a)
2) Rejoice and be glad in your trials (v.13a)
3) Understand trials are used for good in your life (v.13b)
As we enter 1 Peter 5, Peter has some more encouraging words for us… GOD IS GOOD & HE CARES DEEPLY FOR YOU, EVEN IN THE HARDEST CIRCUMSTANCES.
How do we know this? If we are honest, we have questioned this last month. I know there were days for me where I felt like David, “God, why have you forsaken me? Here is the really good news… HE HAS NOT.
I see this all throughout 1 Peter 5. Peter, after speaking about trials, drops some encouraging truths and instructions:
1) GOD HAS PLACED LEADERS IN YOUR LIFE TO CARE FOR YOU (v.1-5)
Leadership in our lives is a precious gift from God, one that we often overlook. God did not simply put leaders in our lives to tell us how to live but to shepherd and care for us deeply. We should lean into them. We should look to them and let them do their God-assigned task - shepherd, care, and invest.
2) RUN TO JESUS, BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU (v.6-7)
We never have to wonder if God has our best in mind. We never have to wonder if God listens to our cries. We never have to wonder if God cares for us. He tells us He does. We must run to Him. He is the only one who can truly care for us and minister to us in the way we need.
As my dad would say, “Run to your heavenly Father and crawl up into His arms and let Him care for you…”
3) PUSH FORWARD (v.8-11)
What Satan wants is for trials to stop us dead in our tracks. He wants trials to make us useless for the kingdom of God. Though he cannot take away our salvation, he wants to incapacitate us to live for Jesus. But what Peter encourages us is,
“Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that that same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 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, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
What encouraging words. Strong commands. Resist Him. Firm in your faith. And then he reminds us we are not alone. We can band together as the church. We can look to Jesus.
He will restore..
He will confirm.
He will strengthen.
He will establish.
Lets cling to this today. Jesus is present. He is good. He is close. Let’s push forward, running to Him.
By: Nick Parsons
8 Comments
Good word, Nick! Thank you.
Over the past month, I've had to remind myself of these truths many times. I've had to fight to believe them when the sorrow felt overwhelming. I've run to Jesus and felt His presence like never before.
Let us remember: God is often closer than ever when we are in pain, even if it doesn't feel like it.
Much love, CPC!
We love you and are so glad you are at CPC!
v10b) So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.
Have you ever been in a trial that seemed to last forever? This verse is so reassuring to me. Even if our trial lasts for years, it is still “a little while” compared to eternity in heaven with Jesus.
I love the last chorus of Amazing Grace.
When we’ve been there 10,000 years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.
This encourages me to endure whatever hardship may come because I know it’s only a little while in view of eternity. Thanks for the good word today Nick! Looking forward to CPC Sweet 16 on Sunday!
I love that verse! Such hope!
Grateful for a leadership team that has worked very hard during this difficult period to go the extra mile to keep the flock informed. The leaders in our church have done a great job of reaching out showing support to so many of us that are grieving the recent losses. Just goes to show you the solid foundation of CPC. Extremely grateful for such wonderful support!
I agree Joey. I trust those men with my life. They have done a phenomenal job in these unprecedented times.
Thanks for this encouraging commentary Nick. I have been clinging to verse 10 lately- “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, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” It reminds me of the truth in 2 Corinthians 4 that describes our present sufferings as a “light, momentary affliction.”
One of my favorite little books, A Gospel Primer, speaks to this:
“Hope of eternity with Christ in heaven also enables my heart to thrive during the most difficult and lengthy of trials here on earth. When looking at the sheer weight of unseen glories to come, my troubles seem light by comparison; and when looking at the staggering length of eternity, my troubles seem fleeting by comparison. It is only against the backdrop of a glorious eternity that my circumstances can been seen in such a manner.”
Thanks Shelby! I love and have been clinging to that too! Great thoughts!