1 Peter 5

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you” (v6). Peter spoke both to “fellow elders” and pastors as well as to younger people, urging them all to put away the self- glorifying arrogance of the world and instead to embrace humility. Some needed to exercise their leadership gifts (v2), but not in a way that assumed superiority. Instead, they were living examples (v3), modeling dependence on God, the only One able to “restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish” each person (v10).

Whatever our gifts or roles in the church, we are called to lean not on ourselves, but on God’s power and His tender care for us (v7).