1 Peter 5:12 – 14 “Through Silvanus (Silas), whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. The church in Babylon, (Rome) chosen together with you, sends you greetings, as does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.”
Peter is winding up this first letter. Now we know that Peter will have the chance to write a second letter; however, Peter does not. At this point, Emperor Nero has come into power and is behaving more bizarrely each day. There are rumors of Christians being persecuted. The fledgling church is coming under attack. Peter likely feels that he is standing on the brink of eternity, with no idea how much time he has left to teach and encourage believers. And it is against this setting that Peter is closing this letter with these remarks.
1. Peter emphasizes that he has sent this letter by a faithful brother, possibly Silas. Peter wants those reading the letter to realize that this is not a fake message. Peter has a sense of urgency to instruct believers while he has the chance.
2. Peter himself has no idea how much time he has left before the Romans gather him up to kill him. Under such circumstances, this old fisherman is speaking plainly: he has communicated the message God has given him as well as he possibly can. Those reading this letter should accept it as coming from God, take it to heart, and use it to build themselves up in the faith.
3. Peter wants those reading this letter to realize that they are part of a wider community, even though they might be a minority in the particular city or town where they are currently living. Why have Zoom meetings become so popular during COVID – 19? We all need to feel connected.
4. Peter wants to emphasize that those who believe have been set apart by God and are therefore chosen and favored by God, no matter how terrible things might become.
5. Peter is speaking a blessing of peace over all believers who are following Christ Jesus. Blessings were taken very seriously in Peter’s day and this was the verbal equivalent of a hug.
Many cultures place a great deal of emphasis on saying proper good – byes. We have spent most of the last 32 years in Ghana, West Africa. Here transportation can be uncertain and fatal road traffic accidents are common. Not only are good – byes important, but it is also considered appropriate to notify friends when you have safely reached your destination. We just returned from a trip of several hundred miles to Accra, Ghana’s capital. Once we reached our home in the North safely, we called friends whom we had visited during the trip, as well as friends in our town who were anxiously waiting for our return. We needed to assure everyone involved that their prayers and efforts on our behalf were successful.
I’ve told the story elsewhere, but it’s worth re-telling. Near my home town of Altona, Illinois, lived an older farm couple. One rainy morning the husband returned from doing farm chores and tracked mud onto his wife’s freshly mopped kitchen floor. The wife fussed at her husband, and he gave her some kind of joking answer and left for Altona. Unfortunately, the warning lights at a train crossing in Altona were faulty, and the husband was struck and killed when a speeding train hit his pickup. For the rest of her life, that poor woman had to live with the knowledge that the last thing she said to her beloved husband of more than 50 years was to fuss at him about his muddy boots.
The Ashantis say “Nkwa hia,” “life is precious.” None of us have any control over the length of our lives. And this is precisely why Peter’s remarks at the end of this letter are worthwhile noticing. Peter is giving us an example. Today, while you still have the chance, write that message, send that card, make that phone call! If there is someone with whom you have a problem, do everything you can to bring it to a peaceful and blessed solution. And forgive while you can! You will never regret it.
PRAYER: Father God, thank you for all the small parts of our lives. Help us to be as careful in these areas as we are with bigger matters. And Lord, help us to demonstrate love and concern and compassion to all those around us while we have the chance. Let us forgive and let go, but above all, Lord, help us to love as you do. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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