Today’s Thought
“When the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive …”
(June 13)
Today we read the concluding chapters of Peter’s first Epistle. What a challenging message Peter conveys to the
“elect exiles of the Dispersion” (1:1).
As Paul was the apostle “to the Gentiles” (see Galatians 2:8,9), so Peter is the Apostle to the natural Jews who have come to believe in Jesus who have left Israel for the relative safety of “Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia”.
Peter was joined in this mission by James – remember how we read the start of his Epistle last week: “To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.”
Why were they scattered? Undoubtedly some would have remained in Jerusalem – while it still existed! Peter has a warning for them – and how appropriate is this for us today! He wrote
“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly …” (4:7,8).
And then in his final chapter,
“And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory” (verse 4).
We must take these words of Peter to heart ourselves.
Finally – note how verses 5 to 8 contain an exhortation we should embrace today with all our hearts.
“Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful.”
Let us fully embrace these words today ready for “when the chief Shepherd appears” – and then we will be wonderfully ready to “receive …”
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Preceding
May the Lord direct your hearts to …
Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God
Unless I wash you, you have no part with me
Love one another; just as I have loved you
Today’s Thought “Leaving you an example” (June 12)
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Additional reading
- Created in the image of the Elohim to use their likeness properly
- Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience
- Suffering redemptive because Jesus redeemed us from sin
- Learn how to go out into the world and proclaim the Good News of the coming Kingdom
- Heed of the Saviour
- A Living Faith #4 Effort
- Let us become nothing, and Christ everything
- Consecration of the priests
- Full text of Pope Francis’ Interview with ‘La Vanguardia’
- There is no true and constant gentleness without humility
- Humility and the Fear of the Lord
- Be kinder than necessary
- The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands
- Willing to be little
- Don’t Harden Your Heart
- A man who cannot forgive others
- It’s not that I’m so smart
- When believing in God’s existence and His son, possessing a divine legislation
- More on Grace and Spiritual Fruit – Abide in Me, and I in you
- The works we have to do according to James
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