1 Peter 5
Scripture
vs 7 … cast all your anxieties on Him (God), because He cares for you.
Vs 9 Resist him (the devil), firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
Vs 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Observation
Peter gives some final commands and encouragement to his readers.
Peter provides extraordinary reasons for his commands.
Peter also provides extraordinary results for those who follow through on his encouragement.
“Cast all your anxieties on God!” … WHY? … “Because He cares for you!!”
“Stand firm in your faith!” … WHY? … “You are not alone in your suffering! Other Christians are experiencing it around the world!”
“Endure suffering for a little while!” … WHY? … “Christ will retore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you forever and ever!”
Application
Well it seems to me this morning that this is the whole deal … “Trust God because He is Good!”
If I trust myself, what will I do? … I will worry and be anxious!
If I trust God what will I do? … Put my worries and anxieties on Him!
But I can’t just trust God to be “capable” or “able to handle it”.
I must trust that God is actually … “Good” … that He has my interests in mind, that He knows what is best for me!
This goes beyond even trusting God for “forgiveness of sins”, or even “salvation”.
Certainly those are included, but this puts me in the position of trusting God for right now … this moment … and the next … and the next!
I will only do this if I truly believe God “cares for me”!
My life may not go as I would have planned it, but I will be in good hands along the way.
As Aslan is described in “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe” … “He is not safe, but He is … GOOD!”
And as life, perhaps, is not going according to my plan … suffering is real and happening … I can maintain Faith!
I can know that I am part of a family, connected, united with brothers and sisters that share in both … my struggle and my faith.
And this struggle is temporary … there is another side to the struggle.
I know this is so many other smaller “sufferings”:
“Eat your vegetables” … I need the nutrition.
“Do the workout” … I’ll be healthier afterward.
“Discipline my child” … I’ll have an enjoyable, mature relationship.
I don’t want to do any of those things … in the moment!
But if I can have an eternal … forever … beyond this moment perspective … everything changes!
I am not alone today in my struggle.
And I am not alone for eternity in my “restored glory in Christ”!
(Unfathomable! … the unsearchable riches of Christ!)
But I must maintain the vision and firmly rooted faith that right now, today, in this moment … God cares for me!
Prayer
Thank you, Father, that You are GOOD!
I can trust you today.
I can give you every worry.
And you have open arms to receive them all.
But thank you, especially, that you open your arms to receive me!
In Jesus name,
Amen