Resist him,

firm in the faith,

knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.

1 Peter 5:9 CSB

Peter was writing before the internet and there were no blogs or Instagram, or messenger chats, but even with all of that, we still get caught believing the lie that in our suffering we are the only one. 

That we're alone in this.

Pete reminds his first century readers (& us) that's not true.

And he has the simplest of strategies to stand firm, to push back against the father of lies:

To be firm in the faith.

Firm in Jesus, the Living Hope of Ch 1, the community of living stones we are, and are becoming.

Firm in the faith of a personal God who sees you, knows you.

Loves you.

Firm in the faith of a Saviour who left heaven and stooped down, who suffered, who chose us.

Who said you're worth it.

Right now, as you are, I love you, and I want to draw you closer.

Firm in the faith that finds itself in loving God and loving people.

Firm in the faith that one day all will be made new and what we see now we'll see in a new Light.

#befirminthefaith

#dearlyloved

#childrenoftheKing

#onedayallwillbemadenew