Session 1 – Week 2 – Day 5
1 Peter 1:1-2; 5:1-14
What insights do they give into Peter’s character?
Peter genuinely cared for people. He wanted their efforts to be multiplied and asked the Lord to bless them. Also, Peter spoke boldly. He was not afraid to speak his thoughts. He was not worried about persecution or people not liking his statements — he spoke for the Spirit. Peter appeared to be a man of strong convictions. He didn’t seem to waiver on his position. He also had no problem making others knew what they needed to do. He wasn’t shy about it and he wasn’t worried about popular opinion.
List the encouragements and instructions that he gives to his fellow Christians, especially the leaders.
- Elect (note: not everyone may see this as encouraging, but I certainly do…)
- Foreknowledge of the Father of the elect (again, not everyone will appreciate this, but i am extremely encouraged by this…)
- Sancitified by the Spirit — this is not of me but from the Lord as a precious gift
- Partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed
- Receive the unfading crown of glory
- God will exalt me (assuming my obedience)
- God has called me to his eternal glory in Christ
- God will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish me
His care for them is demonstrated by the high standards that he sets. Unlike Peter you are probably not in a position to give such instructions to many Christians, but think of your Christian friends. What are your ambitions for them? Do you long for them to apply Peter’s guidance to their own lives? Putting Peter’s instructions into your own words turn them into prayer bearing your friends in mind.
I often wish to see many of my Christian friends pass me in knowledge, wisdom and such. I love to see them grow in the Lord but I also like to surround myself with people who are smarter than me (not hard to do), people who know more than me, people who understand more than me. I want to see my friends grow themselves into Christ-centered people that love people more than anything else. They just want to spend time with people, get to know people and to help them to get to know Jesus. I don’t know that Peter’s instructions have ever been my desire or my prayer for my Christian friends. I want to see them “successful” in the eyes of the Lord. I want to see them have a passion for Christ. I want to see them living their life, every single day, like there was nothing more important than living for Christ.
Father, help me and my brothers to care for other people. Give us a heart that cares more for their needs than for our own. Father, they are your people and that means that they are sacred and special. Help us to remember that. Help us to remember that each person on this world, you love deeply and want to connect with relationally. Father, teach us humility in all aspects of our lives. Our society does not promote humility as a respected characteristic of a person but Father your Word tells us otherwise. Give us an ability to live our lives in a way that shows others Christ. Help our daily walk to be a witness to those around us. I pray and ask all of these things in Jesus Christ’s holy name. Amen.
Peter has a special concern for his fellow-elders, reminding them of their responsibilities. Pray for the leaders of your church, that they will be able to live up to the standards God requires of them.
Father, I ask for you to be with Paul, Tom, David, Toby, Bill, Danny and Michael. Help them to have a fire in their souls to be connected with you as their priority. Give them a humble heart — an obedient heart. Help them to care and love for the people in the body of Christ. They are incredible and Godly men but help them to be cognisant of the role they have in the body. Help them to remember their purpose and to carry that purpose out with passion. Remind them of your majesty and your grace. Grant them a patience with people and a love for people that allows them to listen to and provide for others in the body. I pray these things in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.