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LIVING THE KINGDOM LIFESTYLE IN HUMILITY
A letter from peter
Chapter 5 - Part 2

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. 10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11 All power to him forever! Amen.

Very few of us have humility as a core virtue and there is a sense in which, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we have to continually work on developing it. What will be most helpful will be an awareness of the mighty power of God, that will keep everything in correct perspective. We need to place ourselves in a position of utter reliance on Him, giving all our cares and worries to Him, for we know that his love and care for us is infinite.

Peter now comes up with a reality check and a dire warning. The more active and developing the Christian community, the more it becomes a target of the devil who is depicted as a hungry lion looking for its prey. Consequently, we cannot become complacent or self-satisfied, particularly when things are going well because there is a human tendency to pull back and relax in such circumstances. Continual and regular affirmation of our faith among the assembly of believers is one of the surest ways to maintain a strong faith.

There is a certain strength and confidence in seeing our local situation from a global perspective. It affirms in our minds the power of God to hold together such diverse and culturally different Christian communities from right across our world. Different races and colours, different languages and customs, but all belonging to the royal priesthood of God’s distinctive, and unique holy nation.

Peter wants to remind us of that which awaits us; In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. Whatever the trials and suffering we may experience the final scenario will be beyond anything we can ever imagine.

Peter’s Final Greetings
12 I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.
13 Your sister church here in Babylon sends you greetings, and so does my son Mark.14 Greet each other with a kiss of love.
Peace be with all of you who are in Christ.

What we always need to keep uppermost in our thinking is that regardless of temptations, suffering and trial, nothing can ever sever God’s gift of grace from us. Such circumstances may well be shaping our lives by the Potter and we must encourage and assure each other that in these circumstances the flow of God’s grace is in no way inhibited, but rather intensified.

There can be no doubt that Peter was a recipient not only of God’s grace but of the ministry of fellows Christians.  In his closing greeting, Peter acknowledges that the kingdom lifestyle is not a solitary journey. He has had the support of Silas who he sees as his brother in this holy nation. He closes off with a reference to that which is the so essential and crucial to everything in the Christian lifestyle, the immeasurable, amazing grace of God.


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