You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40 ESV)
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12 ESV)
"Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings."
ReplyDelete1 Peter 5:8-9
Here we are instructed to stay clear minded and resilient against evil. However, we are also reminded that we are not partaking on our journeys alone. We are accompanied by all of the other believers around the world fighting with us against the evils and injustices of this world. The devil does not often change his ways-- he tempts us the same way that he tempted Adam and Eve and the same way that he tempted Jesus in the desert. He challenges our beliefs, he challenges our pride, and he challenges our will. We must remain strong through Christ like those who have remained strong before us and we must also remain strong so that those who come after us will have role models in Christ.
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8
ReplyDeleteThis is far from uplifting. In reading it out of context, it seems very depressing to face a constant downfall at any given moment. But as I read, it seemed a very necessary reminder that although our fates may be sealed, our lives are not promised to be easy. But we have hope in our salvation. Verse 10 goes on to say that when we have resisted the devil, God will give us relief. The important point here is to keep our eyes on Him in the mean time. We know the end, we just have to not lose sight of it on the way. It may be sad to think of trials that lay between us and heaven, but the joy that waits for us is so much more than worth it. I really am encouraged that all we have to do is keep "looking up to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith..." Hebrews 12:2
"shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory."
ReplyDelete1 Peter 5: 2-4
While it was the duty of the elders at the time, I believe Paul is encouraging all of us to be shepherds in some way to some group of people. However, that does not mean that all of us are called to becoming pastors and priests. I think as D-group leaders, church leaders, fathers, and friends we can be an example of Christ to that flock. Of course Paul reminds us that it won't be easy - comparing Satan to a roaring lion - but the rewards of suffering for God's grace will be worth it in the end. In the mean time, let us pray for guidance and courage from the chief Shepperd, knowing that only through Him are the rewards of heaven possible.
Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. (1 Peter 5:9 NLT)
ReplyDeleteI like this verse as it paints a nice picture of the overall human condition. The devil is around us all the time and wants to see us fall into sin, and this is true of everyone- whether they be here or far away, Christian or not, it doesn't matter. We're all tempted and we all fall into temptation every so often and experience suffering in its many forms. Whatever bitter time we seem to be going through, whether self-caused or not, we know that there are people also suffering with the same or similar things. You can always find someone who has gone through something similar or even the same; it joins us together as humans in a common experience. Suffering also teaches us to rely in God for everything so in a way it's necessary for us to experience redemption in our flawed nature since we don't seem to understand any other way.