A side note to church leaders. I write to you as a fellow leader, as one who saw firsthand the sufferings of the anointed king of the world, and as one who will get in on the glory that can’t be seen yet. This is my message to you: God has put these people under your care. So take care of them! Pay close attention to them. And don’t treat this like a chore. Be passionate about it. That’s what God wants from you. This is all about service, not about you making money off people. This is about showing people how to live this life, not about grabbing power over them. God is trusting you with them. You’ll get your reward later on when the Chief Shepherd shows up. Unlike the here-today-gone-tomorrow approval of our culture, his approval will last forever.
Likewise, you young folks, go along with your leaders. And to every single one of you: Let humility be the defining characteristic of your relationships with one another. As the Proverb says,
God gets in the way of the proud,
But he’s on the side of the humble.
So choose to be humble. Put yourself in God’s hand. It’s a powerful hand. And he’ll use it to lift you up at the right time. When you’re filled with anxieties, put them in his hands. Remember, he loves you so much.
Again, be focused, attentive, and unclouded in your thinking. The devil hates you and is on the prowl for you, like a roaring lion. He’d love to sink his teeth in you. But you can beat him. Just stay strong in your faith. You aren’t alone in your sufferings. You’re a part of a family of faith that reaches around the world and we’re all in this struggle together.
Hear this: God is full of grace. Always. And he has called you to join in his never-ending glory because of the anointed king of the world. Because of this, after you have suffered for what will ultimately be just a brief moment, he himself will restore you and make you strong and firm and unbreakable. Oh yes! He is powerful beyond measure, on into eternity.
As I close this short letter, I want to thank Silas for his help in writing it. He’s such a faithful brother to me. Together, we just want to encourage you, to point to the truth that what you’re going through is really the result of God’s grace. Hold on to it with all your strength.
The church here in “Babylon,” your adopted sister in God’s family, sends her greetings. So does my “son,” Mark. Embrace one another in this family love.
As you live in and for the anointed king of the world, may the pieces of your lives come together, making you whole.