Pastor Chris’ Corona Quarantine Epistles to the Flock of AIC Ngong Road, in Dispersion and Isolation. 153rd. Edition.
Dear Children of the Heavenly King,
In today’s passage (1 Peter 5:12), Peter is making one last statement, before he ends the letter. In this statement, we see two important things:
Acknowledgment. Peter states here that he has been assisted in the writing of this letter by Silvanus. This is most likely Silas (he was also known as Silvanus) who traveled with the Apostle Paul. Although Peter would most likely have spoken Greek (the language this letter and all other New Testament books were written), his Greek was probably poor. He would have needed the help of someone who was fluent in the language, hence, Silvanus. In this act, Peter acknowledged both his language deficiency and the ability of Silvanus to fill the gap.
It is important for us to admit our weaknesses and deficiencies and also acknowledge the gifts that God has given others, that we do not have. If your singing sounds like the howling of a dog in pain, please spare God’s children and be an usher, don’t join the choir! Use your gift and allow others to bless you with theirs.
Affirmation. Peter’s reason for writing this letter was to encourage suffering Christians and assure them that the faith for which they were being persecuted was the true faith, delivered to them by the grace of God. Imagine the tragedy of suffering for a lie. There can be no greater disappointment than for one to give one’s all to a cause, only for it to turn out to be false. But our faith is true! If we lose everything, we will, like the Apostle Paul, “count them as rubbish that [we] may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8). “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Your Loving Pastor Chris.