Author: Andrea Schultz

For those of us in the pastoral office or headed on that route, the message extends: you are not THE shepherd. You are undershepherds. We serve the Chief Shepherd, Christ. Do not be domineering of the flock that Jesus has entrusted to your care, because it is not your flock, it is His flock.

For all of us Christians, we are all partakers in the sufferings of Christ and the glory that is to come. In Baptism we were buried with Christ in death and raised again to life. This new life is one of service to one another, not of self-gain or abuse of power. We daily drown the old Adam and the new Adam is clothed in “humility toward one another” (v. 5).

Prayer
Almighty God, Your Son humbled Himself for our sake. Grant that we, like Him, may humble ourselves toward you and toward one another, that we might joyfully receive the unfading crown of glory in the life that is to come; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Hymn
Not unto us, not unto us be glory, Lord;
Not unto us but to Your name be praise;
Not unto us but to Your name all honor be giv’n
For matchless mercy, forgiveness, and grace. (LSB 558:1)

But Christ willingly steps into our suffering and carries it for us. His body bears each of our scars and marks, and we are healed in His weakness. There is no balm or treatment like the blood of Christ who died in our place. There is no suffering that can overtake us for in Christ we find the cure. As the poet John Donne wrote in his Holy Sonnet X:

One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

Through Christ’s triumph over death on the cross, we can find peace in our suffering as we rest in the hope of that final day when we are joined with Him eternally.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, in Your loving kindness You sent Your dear Son, Jesus, to suffer and die for us so that we may be joined to You eternally. Keep our hearts focused on You and allow us the strength to bear whatever suffering we have been called to and rest in Your divine promises; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Hymn
Jesus, refuge of the weary,
Blest Redeemer, whom we love,
Fountain in life’s desert dreary,
Savior from the world above:
Often have Your eyes, offended,
Gazed upon the sinner’s fall;
Yet upon the cross extended,
You have born the pain of all. (LSB 423:1)

The story of your salvation, however, does not end at your failures. The story does not stop with you. In fact, it doesn’t even start with you. It starts with God, who sent His Son for you. His Son who willingly gave His life on the cross for you so that you might be justified and spend eternal life with Him in His Kingdom.

Everything between you and God is taken care of. The sacrifice of blood has been fulfilled, though a sacrifice of praise through service remains. A sacrifice of serving and loving your neighbors for their sake so that God might be glorified through His Spirit’s work in your life. It’s all been taken care of! Go love your neighbor!

Prayer
Most holy God, giver of all we have and the ultimate judge, continue to use Your Holy Spirit in me so that I might love and serve my neighbors as you have called me to do; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Hymn
Let us ever walk with Jesus,
Follow His example pure,
Through a world that would deceive us
And to sin our spirits lure.
Onward in His footsteps treading,
Pilgrims here, our home above,
Full of faith and hope and love,
Let us do the Father’s bidding.
Faithful Lord, with me abide;
I shall follow where You guide. (LSB 685:1)

Our answer to such questioning is that we no longer are slaves to sin, but rather we are sons of the Father and, as such, we live in our Baptism. By daily contrition and repentance the old man is drowned and dies with all sins and evil desires, and a new man daily emerges and arises to live before God in righteousness and purity forever. They are dead, but we live—oblivious to their judgment and persecution (armed with the mind of Christ). Let us pray that they might see Christ and hear His call to repentance.

Prayer
Almighty and everlasting God, You desire none to perish—You sent Your Son that He would atone for our sins. Convict us of our sin, create in us new hearts, and forgive us for the sake of Your Son; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Hymn
Oh, create a heart in me
That in Thee, my God, believeth
And o’er the iniquity
Of my sins most truly grieveth.
When dark hours of woe betide me,
In the wounds of Jesus hide me. (TLH 411:4)

We have received the benefit of Christ’s resurrection through water paired with His trustworthy Word. But, because we still are sinner-saints in this life, we need to remember our Baptism daily and trust the work of Christ in it, lest our sins and conscience terrify us. When we remember our Baptism, we can say with Luther (echoing Peter): “I am baptized…it is promised me that I shall be saved and have eternal life, both in soul and body” (LC IV 44, Triglotta).

Prayer
Our Father in Heaven, we thank You for the gift of Baptism which You have given us through the death and resurrection of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to daily die to sin and drown the Old Adam, that we might live and conduct ourselves as Your baptized children, secure in our faith that You have made us Your own; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Hymn
Baptized into Your name most holy,
O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
I claim a place, though weak and lowly,
Among Your saints, Your chosen host.
Buried with Christ and dead to sin,
Your Spirit now shall live within. (LSB 590:1)

So, “be on your best behavior” and live as who you are, one redeemed by Christ the crucified! You were born again in your Baptism to this living hope, one that is imperishable and kept in heaven for you. Though you may suffer for righteousness’ sake, you share in the sufferings of Christ, who blesses you with His righteousness and guards you through faith until death.

Prayer
Lord God, heavenly Father, we are surrounded by those who revile, slander, and put us to shame. Confirm, strengthen, and establish us in the true faith, that, restored in the living hope of the resurrection of Your Son, we may always be prepared to defend and confess Your Holy name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Hymn
Lord, let me win my foes
With kindly words and actions,
And let me find good friends
For counsel and correction.
Help me, as You have taught,
To love both great and small
And by Your Spirit’s might
To live in peace with all. (LSB 696:4)

As Christians we already have the victory, won for us in Christ Jesus. All the more should we strive for unity even greater than fans of some silly sports team (except the Kansas City Royals, they are awesome). That is St. Peter’s message to us here. Have a unity of mind, all of us striving to show sympathy, love, tenderness, and humbleness to one another and the world. That is who we are to be as the Church.

Prayer
Gracious Father, give unity to Your people that we might be of one mind, displaying a Christ-like love to one another and to those around us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Hymn
One bread, one cup, one body, we,
Rejoicing in our unity,
Proclaim Your love until You come
To bring Your scattered loved ones home. (LSB 623:4)

St. Peter also teaches husbands how they are to act toward their wives. They are to honor their wives and to be understanding and gentle toward them. In other words, they are not to abuse their headship over their wives but they are to use it in service to their wives. Just as Christ is head of the Church and lays down His life for her and gives to her nothing but good gifts, so also husbands are to love their wives, give up their lives for them, and provide for their wives. It is in this way that marriage on earth is a picture of the eternal marriage between Christ and His bride, the Church.

Prayer
Lord God, heavenly Father, You have established marriage between man and wife to be a picture of the heavenly marriage of Christ and His bride, the Church. Grant that husbands and wives may conduct themselves toward one another according to Your will, that at the end of the world all might enjoy the wedding feast of Christ and His bride that will have no end; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Hymn
Oh, blest that house where faith is found
And all in hope and love abound;
They trust their God and serve Him still
And do in all His holy will! (LSB 862:2)