The first letter of Peter was addressed to the persecuted Jewish believers in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. Apostle Peter encourages the believers to have hope in “Christ Jesus who died and is alive” 3:18 and that they should live a sanctified life, setting themselves apart from their troubles, for there is no fear in Jesus, and Christians are required to remain “holy for God is Holy.” (1:16). Peter again encourages the believers, it is not strange for them to suffer because it is part of partaking Christs’ suffering, “He was put to death, rose from the grave, and preached to the spirits in prison” 3:18-19 because they too He must take, but be courageous since our suffering is not permanent, because after one has suffered a while, the Lord will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle.” (5:10). Our loving Father is very faithful. Hallelujah!
As Christians, our faith will always be tested in one’s walk with the Lord, but Peter advised us to stand firm in the Lord, no wavering, but trusting and hoping in Him alone, and if we fail to “submit to God, how can we resist the devil” 5:5.
Brethren, please remember we are a “chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation” (Dr. Robert Stacy Liberty Seminary) we are no longer in “darkness but in His marvelous bright light, and have obtained mercy.” (2:9). “Peter tells us, A loving and caring Father, who committed no sin, humbly surrendered Himself, died a gruesome death for the sake of love, for the sake of our eternal lives, the many stripes on His body, hunger and thirst, stripped naked, carried the cross, nail pierced hands and feet, and by His stripes we were healed. We have returned to Him, who is our Overseer and great shepherd of our soul.” (21-25).
As Christians, we are required to love one another tenderly as the Lord commands, to “love fervently with a pure heart” 1:22 and to let go of “deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking” 2:1 that we should “desire to grow in the Lord.” (2:2) and believers are to be “humble, sober and vigilant as the Lord commands because the devil walks around like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour.” (5:8) The letter of Peter to the persecuted church is still relevant today because believers are still struggling in most parts of the world namely, Bangalore, India and the Northern parts of Nigeria where Pastors are being burnt alive, or beaten to death, not sparing their homes, wives, and children. The Christians in the Northern part of Nigeria are asked by the Muslims to denounce Christ or face death, and in their refusal, heads are chopped off, but the Christians have remained steadfast in their faith, trusting the Lord till the end. In the villages around Bangalore, Christians sometimes worship in fear of the radical Hindus who beat or stone Pastors to death.
In one of my visits to Bangalore, India I had an experience were the hosting Pastor smuggled me out of one of the villages because of the radical Hindus that desire to destroy Christians. I do pray that the light of Jesus shine on the hearts of every unbeliever for them to be transformed from Saul to Paul.
For Jesus. Amen.