1 Peter

1 Peter 5: The God of all grace cares

Begin in prayer

Before you read the end of Peter's letter, please ask the Lord to show your family the chief Shepherd. Ask Him to teach you that the God of all grace cares for His people, and to keep your eyes on Christ.

Seek Yahweh and his strength. Seek his face forever more.

1 Chronicles 16:11

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You are the God of all grace, and that Christ is the chief Shepherd. Teach us to be humble and to be more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The sufferings Peter has described make the care of the church's elders a pressing task. He appeals as a fellow elder, telling them to shepherd God's flock willingly, without greed or domination. The chief Shepherd will appear with unfading glory, so leaders and younger people must clothe themselves with humility. God's mighty hand will exalt the humble in His time, and His care gives them reason to cast their worries on Him. That trust must remain watchful, for the devil prowls like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Peter ends by directing them to God's grace in Christ, the suffering shared by believers everywhere, and the peace belonging to those in Christ.

As you read 1 Peter 5, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The God of all grace called His people to eternal glory in Christ, and He cares for them.

The flock belongs to God, so its elders care for people entrusted to them and never own those people. Their reward comes when the chief Shepherd appears, freeing them from chasing dishonest gain or ruling for their own honor. Humility belongs to the younger who submit and to every believer who must yield to another. God resists pride, and His mighty hand lifts the humble in His time. Casting worries on Him is part of that humility, since it places life's burdens with the God who cares. Such trust stays awake, for the devil's search for someone to devour calls for sober resistance in faith. The suffering church shares this struggle with believers throughout the world. Peter prays that the God who called them to eternal glory in Christ will perfect, establish, strengthen and settle them. Their hope rests in the grace that has called them, and the peace Peter pronounces belongs to those in Christ Jesus.

How does 1 Peter 5 show us that the God of all grace called His people to eternal glory in Christ, and that He cares for them?

The chief Shepherd cares for His flock and will be revealed.

Elders must shepherd God's flock willingly, refusing dishonest gain and the desire to lord over people. They teach by their example, serving under Jesus as the chief Shepherd. The people are entrusted to their care and belong to Him. When He appears, faithful shepherds will receive a crown of glory that never fades.

God resists the proud, and He cares for the humble who trust Him.

The younger must submit to elders, and all believers must clothe themselves with humility toward one another. God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble, lifting them up in His time. Casting worries upon Him is one way they bow beneath His mighty hand.

The devil roars like a lion, but God makes His people strong.

Peter says to be watchful, because the devil walks around like a roaring lion (verse 8). Believers are to withstand him steadfast in their faith, knowing that others suffer the same things (verse 9). Peter prays that the God of all grace will perfect, establish, strengthen and settle them (verse 10).

Peace belongs to all who are in Christ Jesus.

Peter wrote to testify that this is the true grace of God in which believers stand (verse 12). Peter sends greetings from fellow believers and tells them to greet one another with a kiss of love (verses 13 and 14). Then he ends with a blessing, “Peace be to you all who are in Christ Jesus.”

Memorise

may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you

1 Peter 5:10

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I come to the chief Shepherd as a sinner who needs God's grace?

Peter calls Jesus “the chief Shepherd.” A good shepherd cares for his sheep, and this Shepherd cares most of all. Peter writes to believers that God cares for them. The devil walks around like a roaring lion, but the chief Shepherd is stronger.

This Shepherd suffered for His sheep. He carried the sins of His people to the cross and paid for them. Because He paid, nothing more is owed. Then He was raised, and He will be revealed in glory.

So come to the Shepherd. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Humble yourself under God's mighty hand. In Christ Jesus there is peace and forgiveness for every sinner who bows before Him.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the God of all grace cares for His people, and that Jesus is the chief Shepherd. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Please also cast your own worries on God, where your children can see it.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for the chief Shepherd and for the grace He gives to the humble, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it.

1 Thessalonians 5:24

Lord Jesus, thank You that You are the chief Shepherd, and that You suffered for Your people. Please help us to humble ourselves, to turn from sin and to trust You. Thank You that the God of all grace cares for His people. Amen.