1 Peter 5:12–14 (ESV)
Final Greetings
12 By Silvanus, a faithful
brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. 13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. 14 Greet one another with
the kiss of love.
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
It is usually not easy to write a devotion based on the Final Greetings, but here we go. Silvanus
is the scribe who wrote as Paul dictated the letter. There is a gem hidden in this Final Greeting. It is found at the end of verse 12: “Stand firm in it.” We are to stand firm in our faith. Much like Martin Luther who had to make a life or death
decision to recant his beliefs, Luther would not recant and made his “Here I stand” speech. We too, need to stand firm in our faith, even in the face of life or death. Verse 14 reminds us to “Greet one another with the kiss of love.”
I will try this next Sunday and report back to you. Well... maybe not. I will give them a handshake. I’m not sure how the lady’s will take the kiss and I have an elder that will probably knock my lights out! The handshake will do.
I pray: O Lord, help me to thirst and hunger for your Word and to stand firm in it’s teachings. It is hard to stand firm in the teachings if you don’t study, so inspire all of us to study your Word. Amen.