1 Peter 5:9 KJV [9] “whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”      How can we overcome the Devil? The answer is by resisting him. We cannot give him an inch, or he will take a mile. The Devil is not looking for a large opening when all he needs is a foothold. If he can find a small entrance into our lives, then he can destroy us.      The key to conquering him is resistance. What does this mean? It means that we must be …

1 Peter 5:8 KJV [8] “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”      Peter gives us a solemn warning in this verse. I believe this is a reality check for every child of God when it comes to our adversary. Remember that the Devil is not our friend. He has been the enemy of God from before the foundation of this world. He appeared in the garden to destroy man and retaliate against God. The Devil does not care about anyone other than himself. He will stop …

1 Peter 5:7 KJV [7] “casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”      Whenever I read this verse, I think of an old song that says, “Someone to care, someone to share.” The Someone in that song is the Lord Jesus Christ. I am glad that we can cast all of our cares upon Him. It does not matter how big or small they may seem. He is always willing to shoulder our burdens.      Sometimes, we share our burdens with others, and it seems they are not listening. Other times, they do not have the …

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 …