By Clay Anthony
The Culmination of Our Hope • 1 Peter 5:5b-11
The theme of our look at 1 Peter has been, “Living with Hope in a Broken World.” Two truths that are undeniable when considering this theme: this world is indeed broken and we indeed have to live in it. The question is how? How do believers continue to hold their heads up while the world around them seems to have lost all sense of normalcy? The answer is in the question — we continue to look up, not to emulate Chicken Little but to keep an eye on the sky. We know how this story ends. What we see around us is not the last word of the story nor is it even the best word of the story. Let me encourage you by sharing with you some better “last words” on which to dwell.
Humility. The idea of being humble runs through the fifth chapter of I Peter, vv. 5-7. Humility never means weakness. On the contrary, the word reveals an inside-out virtue that is produced when comparing yourself to Christ instead of other people. If I were to think too highly of my basketball skills, a one-on-one game with Michael Jordan would teach me a little humility. In my growth toward holiness, the same could be said of comparing my life to that of Christ. We are told to wear humility. The word used here for clothing is the only time it is used in the New Testament. It literally means to tie or tuck up. Think of the last article of clothing Peter would put on: an outer robe. To secure that robe, he would then tie up the front with a knot. That knot is to be our humility. This is to be the last item we put on and the first item people notice. It is the one item that covers all other aspects of our lives.
Resistance. Being sober minded indeed means to stay clear from drunkenness, but in actuality it means to have a clear thought life. We are to not allow anything to cloud our judgements. This includes substance abuse but also jealously, hatred, gossip, envy, and other sins we allow to get into our thought life. We are to be watchful for our enemy, for he is certainly watching for us. It is much easier to watch if your mind is clear from sin. This can only be done by standing firm and resisting the vile ways that the enemy uses to tangle up our walk (Heb. 12:1). Believers the world over and throughout history have faced the same issues that we face today. We can draw strength from their example to finish our course. (v. 9).
Restoration. The God of all grace (v. 10) is a phrase I have come to love. It is the perfect title for our Heavenly Father. He is of good grace and He proves it by what He does best: He calls us to eternity. We were never intended to take up permanent residence in this present life. Verse 10 is full of promising actions by this God of good grace. He will restore all that has been lost. He will confirm all for which we have held out in faith. He will strengthen once and for all time our weakest areas of sin. He will build us up into what we were originally designed to be in Him.
Live It Out. Humble yourself daily by comparing yourself with Christ in His Word. Resist and fight the enemy daily by leaning on the power of the Holy Spirit to win this war for you. Remind yourself of the restoration that is awaiting all things and do this daily as well. Also, claim the truth of verse seven, all worries go to Him for He cares for you.
Anthony is director of the Collaborative Missionary Network, Oxford/Holly Springs.
