1 Peter 5:8-11
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
With all the trials, judgement, and submission that Peter wrote of earlier in this letter, he now gives an overarching warning about suffering, sanctification, and how we are to live for Christ. Our victory is in Him (1 Corinthians 15:57-58). Our adversary, the fallen one, is out to make war with us and devour us because we are Christ’s (Revelation 12:17). Therefore we must be of a clear mind and keep watch for his attempts to trip us and deceive us; we need to know the truth from God’s word, constantly immersed in it and meditating on how we are to live it. Only then will we be armed to resist and defend, just as we all do who are in Christ. This constant battle drives us to yield to God’s Spirit and trust His word and work in us in our suffering; by His great grace and calling to glorify Him forever we grow in sanctification and service. We endure as He fits us out to complete us (καταρτίσαι), as He then makes us firmly place and constant (στηρίξει), as He then makes us steadfast in strength (σθενώσει), and finally as He founds us firmly (θεμελιώσει) upon Himself as the Rock of our faith’s foundation. This process sets us firmly in the storm on the solid rock (Matthew 7:24) of Christ Himself, conformed to Him and standing solidly against all tempests, trials, and attacks of the wicked one. This is how we give glory to the only wise and omnipotent King of kings and Lord of all lords forever and ever from here into eternity. Amen.
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