_THE OVERSIGHT OF THE FLOCK_ ‘Feed [tend, R.V.] the flock of God which is among you, taking [exercising, R.V.] the oversight.’ 1 Peter 5:2 ‘Feed,’ writes the Apostle, ‘tend the flock of God which is among you.’ In the words ‘feed’ or ‘tend,’ the old and new versions of the Epistle are alike tryin... [ Continue Reading ]
_A MESSAGE FOR WORKERS_ ‘And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.’ 1 Peter 5:4 ‘When the Chief Shepherd shall appear.’ As I hear that message it tells me three things. I. THERE IS A CHIEF SHEPHERD.—As we think of our great cities and of th... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE VIRTUE OF HUMILITY_ ‘Be clothed with humility.’ 1 Peter 5:5 As we consider the great virtue of humility, we must remember whence it springs. It is just one of those virtues which seem to have a special date, and that special date belongs to Christ. There were such very different opinions in... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE REMEDY FOR CARE_ ‘Casting all your care [anxiety] upon Him; for he careth for you.’ 1 Peter 5:7 In just a few simple words, not as appealing to the intellect, but to the heart, let me seek to enforce the duty and the encouragement which these words of St. Peter set before us. I. A PRELIMINA... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE PERSONALITY OF EVIL_ ‘Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith.’ 1 Peter 5:8 ‘Your adversary the devil’—is he a figure of speech, or a real person? I venture to ask you to consider... [ Continue Reading ]
_STEPS TOWARDS PERFECTION_ ‘But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.’ 1 Peter 5:10 If the Christian danger is that of drifting, there can be no doubt that the Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
_MARK_ ‘Marcus my son.’ 1 Peter 5:13 I. THAT ST. MARK POSSESSED A MISSIONARY SPIRIT IS CLEAR.—At first he was the devoted companion of St. Paul and St. Barnabas in some of their long journeys to propagate Christianity (Acts 12:25; Acts 13:5); but he withdrew himself in Pamphylia, because St. Paul... [ Continue Reading ]