Scripture to Read: 1 Peter 5:12–14
God had Peter end 1 Peter with a word of encouragement to the believers. Interestingly, God used Silvanus to pen this letter for Peter. Silvanus, also known as Silas, had ministered with Paul and Timothy, and Silvanus (Silas) is mentioned eighteen times in the New Testament. Everything God shared throughout 1 Peter is about His true grace, and His grace is what we are to stand firm in daily. Without God’s grace, we are doomed to an eternity separated from Him. But through His grace, through our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, we are completely restored to a right relationship with God the Father. Through our relationship with God, we grow in our fellowship with Him. That is why God, through Peter, encouraged all believers to stand firm in His grace as we walk with Him. In 1 Peter 5:13, God had Peter mention the church in Babylon and Mark, that they sent greetings to the believers to whom this letter was initially written. God also had Peter send this command, “Greet one another with a kiss of love.” God desires every follower of Christ to display His love so that everyone else knows that we belong to Him (John 13:34–35). God also had Peter send a pronouncement of His peace. God’s peace is so critical to our daily walk that God tells us in Colossians 3:15 that His peace must rule in our hearts. But, of course, God’s peace is only available through a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. No Christ, no peace, but if we know Christ, know peace.
Challenge & Application
1. How have you experienced God’s perfect grace and peace in your life each day?
2. How are you choosing to stand firm in the grace of God during suffering?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!