1 Peter 5:6 KJV [6] “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”      We should never seek to be exalted before others. Think about how foolish it is to feel we deserve to be above anyone else. If we consider our sinfulness, we must realize that the only thing we truly deserve is a place in Hell. I am thankful for God’s grace, which has saved us and given us a place in His family.       The flesh never rests even though we have been saved. It constantly looks for …

1 Peter 5:5 KJV [5] “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”      The attire of a Christian should be different than the attire of those who are not Christians. However, we often see people in the church debating over what is and is not acceptable to God when it comes to our wardrobe. The answer to this debate is simple. First, our attire should always reflect modesty and holiness. Secondly, if we follow …

1 Peter 5:4 KJV  [4] “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”      I want to encourage every pastor to remain faithful in these last days. God has given you a great responsibility, but He has also promised you a great reward. A crowning day is coming for the men of God who have remained faithful. You may be reading this devotional and wondering how this can help you if you are not a pastor. It gives insight regarding how to pray for and support your pastor.       Pastors …

1 Peter 5:3 KJV [3] “neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.”      This is a great verse because it puts the man of God in his place. As pastors, we must understand what it means to be the leader of a congregation. Many men should resign from their churches, get a good job, and make an honest living.       A man must be called to preach to be a pastor. This means he has a divine calling on his life. I heard a preacher say years ago that he had never been called …

1 Peter 5:2 KJV [2] “feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;”     In this verse, the pastor is admonished to take the oversight. Peter states that it must be done with the right motive and perspective. The pastor is not to be a dictator, but he is to be the leader of the church. Many people today want a preacher but not a pastor. They want someone who will deliver a sermon but not someone who will govern the church.  …

1 Peter 5:1 KJV [1] “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:”      The word elder is translated from the word “presbuteros.” This word was used to describe those who were older but eventually came to represent an official in the church. The term we use today is pastor. We know that the word pastor is a biblical term that Paul used in Ephesians to describe one of the speaking gifts given to the church. Pastors …

1 Peter 4:19 KJV [19] “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”     We who are saved may suffer in this life, but we have the blessed assurance that we will never suffer in the world to come. The troubles and trials here are only for a season, but there is a better day coming for the child of God. Can you imagine living in a land where there is no suffering? Many children of God endured suffering in this …

1 Peter 4:18 KJV [18] “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”      In this verse, Peter makes distinctions between the righteous and the sinner. We are all sinners outside of the grace of God and the blood of Jesus. However, if you are saved, the righteousness of Christ has been applied to your life. He is not talking about self-righteousness but His righteousness. As the songwriter wrote, “In my hand no price I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.” It is a great truth that the Son has made us …

1 Peter 4:17 KJV [17] “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”      There is a lot to consider in this verse about the judgment of God. The shocking reality is that judgment does not start with sinners but begins with the saints. This is true both in this life and in eternity. God will deal with His children first because we belong to Him. He loves us too much to let …

1 Peter 4:16 KJV [16] “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”      Suffering is something we do not like to think about much. It is natural for us to want to live life in comfort and ease. We would like for life to sail smoothly without any interruptions or complications. However, we all know that life is seldom a smooth path. Many storms will come our way, and there will be many valleys to cross between here and the other side of life. Suffering is …