Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.
The setting in these verses is that Peter had arrived in Jerusalem to join Paul in his preaching of the gospel in Rome. Paul was under house arrest there, but was given liberty to speak to the Christians in Rome. Prior to Peter's arrival there, Paul was executed by the Caesar. Peter learns of Paul's fate and immediately takes over where he left off which is spreading the news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his grace for salvation to those who believe. The Caesar will take Peter's life also, because he is known as the Chief of the Apostles and Peter refers to those adversaries of Christ is the roaring lion who seeks someone to devour. He reminds them that the persecution which has taken place and will continue to take place is not uncommon among believers, but rather common. He exhorts these new believers to stand firm in their faith and don't waiver, because the Chief Shepherd, who is Jesus Christ, will reward them with a Crown of Honor when he returns.
Daily Prayer: Father, though the world remains under demonic control still, your grace is sufficient for me. It is not as often that people suffer for their faith by the loss of their lives where I live, but Christians are routinely persecuted by the world for their steadfast faith and trust in you. Ground me in my faith so that when trouble comes, that I may share the reason for my trust in you. In Jesus name I pray Amen.
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