“In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).

It may not seem so at first, but the proud never come to anything.  In the end they fail.  The ones who are looked upon favorably over time are they who have been humbled.  And this is said not so that we would seek either a good or a bad life, but that only in humility do we find the way of Christ made more clear for our journey.

Almighty Father, You sent your only begotten Son to take our place, dying to sin in order that we may live unto eternal life.  He came not to be served, but to serve.  In Him we have our hope and our being.  Help Your people to see that the cure for pride is humility and the example of Christ is the way.  Help us to see clearly that only through the salvation You have prepared can we begin to see the truth of what You have revealed.

Lord Jesus, in humility, You walked the earth.  You have shown us how to be humble.  Lead me in the way of humility, teaching me what it means to be humble.  Lead me to become humble by not thinking only of myself, but live as You lead, doing what You give me to do.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life, living according to the promise given through Your life, death, and resurrection.  Amen.   

“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away” (1 Peter 5:4).

The crown of glory is not a reward, for Jesus taught us that the best we can do is to simply be obedient.  The crown of glory is the eternal life He has won for us from the cross.  Pride is what has brought sin into the world, so do not think in these terms, but in humility know that your salvation is completely dependent upon our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  By and through Him alone is all hope.

LORD, You have called all who believe out of a downward spiral into an abyss to be united with Christ in order that the One who descended may ascend to show the way for us all.  Turn my eyes to Jesus and show me His glory, the glory of the only Begotten, and remind me that my hope is not in who I am, but in who You are.  Lead me in the way of everlasting life.

Lord Jesus, You have come in order that we may have life abundantly and live freely.  Help me to understand what this means.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You alone is all hope.  It was in You, through You and for You that all things were made.  Lead me in the right way, Lord, so that I may live into the hope and promise You give me through the salvation You have prepared before me.  Amen.

“[N]ot pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2b-3).

When you are under the law of love, if we can call it that, you seek to do what is right because it is right.  It is not a matter of doing this because you must, but because, in love, you are doing what the Lord gives you to do and doing it willingly.  In such charity, we are not to lord it over others, but as Christ did, serve all in the name of the Lord.  We are called to become like Christ in all things.

Lord, help me see what You are teaching me.  Help me to have a willing heart in order that I may now and always grow in the faith You have given me through Christ.  Lead me to look at His behavior and emulate His example.  Help me to move beyond myself so that I may progress on the upward path of the salvation You have given me through faith by grace.

Lord Jesus, You are the model of the godly life.  You have served us all by going to the cross so that we would not perish but have everlasting life.  Guide me, Lord, in all of Your ways that I may now and forever be led by You.  I need Your grace; I need Your mercy. Help me to live in the faith You have given me as You teach me and grow in me what You have always intended.  Amen.  

“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be” (1 Peter 5:2a)

This journey of faith is one that is moving us beyond being obligated for doing things.  Love is not an obligation.  It is to move us into the place where we understand that serving the Lord is what we were created to do.  We serve the One who first served us.  Do not be motivated by obligation, but by every good promise the Lord places before us.  Our hope is in Him alone.

Lord, I know this in the relationships I have on earth.  How is it that this principle which You have placed in me from the beginning is so hard to apply to heavenly things?  You have given me the ability to love.  In You is all hope.  You have led me to trust in Your never-failing promises. Help me learn how to serve because it is pleasing to You.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy.

Come Holy Spirit and minister to my heart.  You have opened my heart to love and the truth of the Gospel.  You have helped me to see that these things are true.  Guide me dear Lord in the way of everlasting life so that I may always trust in Your guidance through all the travails of this life.  In all that happens, may I be guided by You dear Lord to willingly and freely serve You in love.  Amen.

“To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed” (1 Peter 5:1)

There are the cadre of those who suffer along with Christ.  He has led the way.  Count your sufferings for Christ as a blessing knowing that He who is in You is greater than the ones who bring the suffering.  Look to the glory to be revealed and know that the One who has spoken all things into existence will accomplish all that He has promised.  He is the Alpha and Omega and all things already are according to His will.

Let me not be deceived by this world O Lord.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You is all hope and a future.  When I am reviled for Your name’s sake, let me not forget that You suffered first for us all.  Lord, I may not understand these things, but I do hear Your promises.  Guide me Lord so that I may now and always look to You, the One in whom there is all hope.

Lord Jesus, You headed intentionally to the cross.  Lead me in whatever direction You know I need to go.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to walk humbly and boldly through all of the trials that will come my way knowing that my life is in You.  Grant that I may be a fellow witness of Your sufferings as I live intentionally in the hope You give me through faith.  Amen.

“So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good” (1 Peter 4:19).

No matter what happens, do what is right.  This seems so simple, yet many do seem to fall away when adversity comes.  Not just in commitment to the Lord, but these days it seems that people have difficulty with many kinds of commitments.  Marriages fall apart, families are abandoned, homes and businesses left behind because of adversity.  To what will you be committed if not to the Lord?

Lord, help me to be a person of integrity.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You is all hope and apart from You is godlessness.  Help me to know that I must commit to something.  I must have a direction, for even if I choose to wander, I am choosing a direction.  Guide me Lord so that I may walk the path of the humble who follow You with the purpose You have designed for each one of us.

Lord Jesus, in You is all hope.  You have come in order that we may have life and have it abundantly.  You must lead and I must follow.  You have said that if I follow You there will be suffering.  This age of sin produces suffering.  Lead me, O Lord, away from the way of the wicked so that I may follow You all the days of my life.  Help me to walk through all adversity that comes my way and by Your power.  Amen.

“And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” (1 Peter 4:18)

Do you think lightly of your salvation?  Are you one who thinks a little bit is just fine?  Jesus did not come to save a part of you, but the whole of you.  From the inside out, He will make of you one who is in His image.  Therefore, this passage is true.  If the righteous fear, what should those who take these things so lightly do?  This does not even consider the ungodly who hate the Lord.

Lord, my heart does need to often reconsider what I think about faith.  I do sometimes think way too lightly of these things.  Yet, I cannot save myself, so being all somber and serious cannot be the answer either.  Lord, lead me.  This alone is the answer.  You must lead and I must follow.  Guide me in the upward way of faith so that I may walk humbly with You leading my Lord and Savior.

Lord Jesus, You told us to take upon ourselves Your yoke and walk with You.  At times salvation seems so easy and at other times, it seems impossible.  Guide me dear Lord in the way You know I need to go.  Help me to understand that only in You is there any hope at all.  Keep me from the way of the ungodly and help me on the path of righteousness which You have set before me.  Amen.

“For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17)

We tend to look out and conform to the world rather than to look inward and be conformed to the will of God.  Do not go to the lowest common denominator, but be lifted up by the One Lord and Savior of us all, Jesus Christ.  Do not think that we will escape judgement, for we confess that we believe in Jesus returning to judge the living and the dead.  Come then and live into the life to which you have been called.

Lord, You know where my heart tends to go.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life in order that I would not look to the world, but away from it and to You.  Teach me how to love.  Help me in those times where I am uncertain so that I may live in the freedom You have given me.  Through all things, continue to guide me in Your grace and mercy to be what You have called me to be.

Lord Jesus, in You alone is hope and an eternal future.  Guide me in the way of life which You have established in order that I may now and forever be guided by Your grace and mercy and live the Father’s will.  Not meritoriously, but recognizing that You hold us all accountable, help me to live knowing that You will ask me what I have done with the gifts You have given me.  Amen.

“However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name” (1 Peter 4:16).

It is no shame when you are hated for doing the right thing.  Our Lord was crucified and He did no wrong.  The world hates light and truth.  But there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed.  Come into the light and know that in the Lord is goodness and truth.  Never be ashamed of the One who has come into the world so that You might leave the world to be with Him forever.

Lord, I do not know why I am ashamed when I should not be.  But the world does this to me and I do this to myself.  Help me to see things as they are. Guide me to not care, in this sense, what the world thinks.  Help me to do what is right even though the whole world were to try to shame me into doing wrong.  Only in You can I see what is right and true.  Only in You is there hope and a future.

Lord Jesus, You were constantly harassed by those in the world.  What did they gain?  They are dead and gone, but You have changed the course of the world.  Let me not live with my eye just upon the moment, but help me to see You, the One who is in eternity.  Guide me in the upward way of the call You have given me so that I may now and always be lead in the way You know I need to go.  Amen.

“If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler” (1 Peter 4:15).

Our Lord died for the sins of all, but not in order that we would go on sinning.  Leading lives of repentance is no easy task.  Many take the path of thinking they are just fine rather than the path of seeking to do the Lord’s will   Come onto the right path and live a life worthy of the calling you have received from Christ.  Know that in Him is all life and true liberty from the recompense of sin.

Lord, the world presses in on me to play games.  In my time, many denominations have been ravaged by this game of looking the other way to sin.  Help me to not play games, but realize that this is so serious that if I do live in the grace You give, I will pay a worldly price.  Yet, what price is that compared to what You give me by that same grace.  Lead me Lord in the right way to live.

Lord, Jesus, You know all about suffering.  You have also forgiven all of us criminals.  Help me to follow Your example which reached out to heal the sick and the suffering.  Help me to care for others whether or not they deserve it.  Guide me to adopt the right attitude in living.  Lord, you have come to save us and only through You is there salvation.  Guide me always in the way I should live life.  Amen.