1 Peter 5:6-14

⁶ “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, ⁷ having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you. ⁸ Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹ So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world. ¹⁰ After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹ To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen. ¹² Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! ¹³ She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark. ¹⁴ Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.”

Verse 6: Peter encourages believers to humble themselves under God’s mighty hand. Humility is not about self-degradation or trying to earn God’s favor through our own efforts. Instead, it is about recognizing our dependence on God and trusting in His care for us. We can rest assured that in due time, God will lift us up and exalt us according to His perfect timing and purposes.

Verse 7: Peter reminds believers to cast all their anxieties and worries upon God. Because of the finished work of Christ, we have the privilege of approaching God with confidence, knowing that He cares for us deeply. We don’t have to carry the weight of our own lives or be consumed by anxiety. Instead, we can trust that God is with us in every circumstance and that He will provide for our needs.

Verse 8: Peter warns believers to be alert and vigilant, recognizing that the enemy, the devil, seeks to devour and destroy. Believers have been delivered from the power of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of light. While we should be aware of the enemy’s tactics, we can stand firm in the victory of Christ and rely on His strength to resist the devil.

Verse 9: Peter encourages believers to resist the devil and stand firm in the faith. We have been given the authority and power to resist the enemy through our union with Christ. We can trust that we are not alone in our struggles, as believers around the world are facing similar challenges. We can find strength and encouragement in knowing that we are part of a larger family of believers.

Verse 10: Peter reminds believers that the God of all grace, who called them to eternal glory in Christ, will personally restore and strengthen them. Our suffering is temporary, and God’s grace is more than sufficient to sustain us. We can trust that God will personally work in our lives, making us strong, firm, and steadfast in our faith.

Verse 11: Peter concludes this passage by acknowledging that all power and glory belong to God forever. We recognize that our strength and victory come from God alone. We can join Peter in declaring our praise and worship to the One who is worthy of all honor and glory.

Verse 12-14: Peter concludes his letter by mentioning Silas, whom he regards as a faithful brother, and expressing his purpose in writing – to encourage and testify to the true grace of God. He urges believers to stand firm in this grace. Peter also sends greetings from a fellow believer in Babylon and his son Mark. He encourages believers to greet one another with a kiss of love, symbolizing the unity and love that should characterize the body of Christ. Finally, he pronounces peace to all who are in Christ, reminding believers of the peace that comes from their union with him.