“And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t Lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor. In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen. I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace. Your sister church here in Babylon sends you greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet each other with a kiss of love. Peace be with all of you who are in Christ.”
As Peter wraps up his letter, he takes one last opportunity to emphasize something important: we have a real enemy, the devil, who is "seeking someone to devour" (v. 8). It's easy to forget that this enemy exists, which is exactly what he wants. If he can make us believe he’s not real, we’re more likely to fall into his traps. Think about it—if you're in a game, you're more likely to win if you know your opponent and how they operate. So, let’s remind ourselves regularly that the enemy is real and learn to recognize him.
So how do we stand against him? Peter tells us to be clear-headed and alert, to stay on guard and expect the enemy’s attempts to trap us. He also urges us to resist him, stay strong in our faith, and remember that we’re not alone in our struggles. This is a daily battle for our souls, and just acknowledging the devil's existence isn’t enough—we need to be prepared for this spiritual fight. We do that by studying God’s Word, praying regularly, and confessing our sins to fellow believers so sin no longer holds power over us.
Recognizing that we’re in a spiritual battle can be overwhelming, but Peter closes with a reassuring message: "peace to all you who are in Christ" (v. 14). As believers, we have access to a peace that can’t be shaken, even in the midst of trials. It’s in His nature to give us peace. We can’t resist the enemy on our own, but the Creator of the universe is with us, equipping us to stand firm and filling us with peace. And after we’ve "suffered for a little while," (meaning our lives on earth) God Himself will restore us (v. 10). Let’s thank God today for His promise to restore us and for being our constant help in the meantime.