Daily Devotion, April 12, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read 1 Peter 5:6-7.

First Peter is written to encourage the new Christ-followers who are living in exile in an area which was then known as Asia Minor. Even in the midst of suffering and persecution, this letter was calling them to live faithfully following in the ways of Christ.

Eugene Peterson’s interpretation in The Message writes of this new life in Christ. “Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future.” 1 Peter 1:3-5.

The letter is addressed to those who are experiencing suffering. They can be encouraged because they can trust God completely and “continue to do good.” 1 Peter 4:19.

Then chapter 5 is written particularly to the first-century Elders of the church and the younger ones who are learning from them. The suffering the author is addressing goes beyond our daily worries. It was a word of strength and encouragement to new converts to Christianity whose very lives were in danger of persecution and death!

The type of suffering these early Christians understood was the Christ-like suffering which Dr. Edward F. Marquart defines as different from our personal suffering. “To suffer as a Christian is to enter into the suffering of those around you. The Greek word, “pasco” is this type of suffering.”

1 Peter encourages these new converts to be humble before God and gives them words of assurance, strength and encouragement. And he wants to assure them that God, who is strong enough to save and to raise Christ from the dead, is the one CARING for them! It is difficult to adequately translate from the Greek the word for “care”. The NIV and NRSV translate this verse with the words “anxiety” and “care”.  In another way, it could be translated, “Cast ‘all of the situations that you are caring about’ on God, because God cares for you.” Or said more simply, “Give all your cares to God because God cares for you.”

Personal Worship Option:

God is strong enough and God does CARE about you. Bring the situations you are caring about today before the Lord. In the still moments in God’s presence, receive God’s strength, gentleness, encouragement, comfort, peace, love and guidance for the situations ahead of you. Amen.