Peter is writing here to those who have the same precious faith in Jesus Christ that he has.
He opens by telling us about Jesus when He was on the cross and says that Jesus sacrificed everything in the battle against sin. We know that He left His Father’s company, laid down His majesty and rule and came to earth as a baby – a big sacrifice indeed, but then after 33 years, He took the sin of the whole world upon Himself, and went to hell for us so that we did not have to go. Sacrifice and then some!!!
Peter says that Jesus calls us to have the same attitude to sin as Jesus had. We should give everything in the battle against sin in our lives.
Verses 2 - 6 say that when we truly suffer for our faith it changes us in such a way that we will no longer want any part of sin and will live our lives for the will of God more earnestly. Those who do not live their lives for God will have to answer to Him.
In verses 7 - 11 Peter tells us the end is almost here, and so tells us how to behave toward one another during this time: to love one another, offer hospitality without grumbling and use the gifts given to us by Father God so that the praise and glory go to Him.
Then in verses 12 - 19 Peter talks to us about suffering. We WILL all suffer. We are in a battle with the evil one and he will fight back, but we should not be ashamed in our suffering, but praise God and carry on doing good.
Chapter 5 is full of instructions: for leaders on how to care for the flock, for young men, and then for everyone.
Then we get to verses 6 - 7, two famous verses where Peter reminds us that Father God cares about each of us individually. Then there are more instructions on how to stand firm in the faith amidst all the enemies attacks, then there are the final greetings.
We are in a battle against sin every day of our life. As Christians we walk every day with Jesus. An American Bible teacher once said, “If you walk in the opposite way to the devil, then you are bound to bump into him.”
We will be attacked, that is part of the walk with Jesus Christ, but we should not to give up.
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Prayer: Father God, help me to give all I have today in the battle against sin. Amen