Bible Text: 1 Peter 5:12-14 | Preacher: Pastor Joe Ricchuiti | Series: 1 Peter, Be Encouraged

In his concluding thoughts Peter urges believers to:

-stand fast in the midst of ridicule/persecution so that the grace of God would be evident to an unbelieving world

-live according to God’s standard, not the world’s standards, whatever the cost

-be self-controlled so that we can think clearly, pray, and be alert against the Devil’s schemes

Grace is God’s generosity, His favor, to those who do not deserve favor. It can save us (Eph. 2:8-10); it can give us strength in times of trial and turns suffering into glory (2 Cor. 12:1-10); it can enable us to serve God in difficulties (1 Cor. 15:9-10). In the context of 1 Peter grace enables us: to be under control-alert, minds prepared, clear-minded and self-controlled; to not be ashamed of Jesus but to be ready to give an answer when someone sees our lifestyle of humility and love and asks us. (Wiersbe)
Peter, in closing the book mentions those who helped him in the ministry. Two such helpers were Silas (Silvanus) and Mark (John Mark). Silas is called the faithful brother. Mark was the restored one.
“Silvanus was one of those men the Church can never do without. He was content to take the second place and to serve almost in the background so long as God’s work was done. It was enough for him that he was Paul’s assistant, even if Paul forever overshadowed him. It was enough for him to be Peter’s penman, even if it meant only a bare mention of his name at the end of the letter. For all that, it is no little thing to go down in history as the faithful henchman on whom both Peter and Paul depended. The church always has need of people like Silvanus and many who cannot be Peters or Pauls can still assist the Peters and Pauls to do their work.” (Barclay)
Mark was restored after a failure on the first missionary journey of Paul. He is the example of what God can do even in those who fail and how one who has failed God can be restored and used once again.