1 Peter 5:1-11
So here we are... a Christian high school in the year 2009. We have freedoms galore; a building which we can use to honour God by exercising learning skills and teaching concepts from a perspective of faith. Our school is a place of relationships where we can freely show our Reformed Christian faith without fear of physical or verbal persecution. It is here at Providence Reformed Collegiate where we aim to grow in faith, build strong relationships, and gain intelligence; all to the glory of God. So...How is it going so far? Is God pleased with your actions in this school?
Fellow students, are you treating your teachers and peers with the respect and kindness they should expect from Christian students and classmates? Or, are you being disrespectful to your bus drivers, teachers, and friends. Are you doing you very best to honour God in your studies or are you simply coasting along? Do you aim to build people up in encouragement and brotherly love or tear them down by gossip, rude comments, or ignorance? Colossians 3:23-24 “And whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ.”
Dear Teachers, are you being good examples to your students, shepherding them in God’s love? Or are you lording your authority over them, choosing favourites, and being unjust in grading? Do you enjoy your work and do it to God’s glory or do you come here out of compulsion or hopes of becoming everybody’s favourite teacher? Be reminded of God’s promise to those who do His will (in verse 4) “and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”
Now to everyone gathered here this morning: Be sober and vigilant, resist the devil: he truly is like a roaring lion, and he seeks to devour you and me. Satan wants us to think that we are good enough: we are Christians, and we are way better than pagans and sinful unbelievers. In having us believe that we are perfectly fine the way we are, we are disarmed and will fall to our own ruin. Pride sets in and closes the door to our ability to witness the gospel to unbelievers, not only that...but we become numb and immune to our own selfish actions: we become proud sinful hypocrites. Therefore be clothed in humility...it is not an accessory to carry around when we feel like it...but something to be clothed with, people can tell when someone is not fully clothed, and so it is with humility. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Well...all of this is too hard to do alone, but verse 7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” You don’t have to do it alone...God is always there with forgiveness, love, and hope. If you need strength—go to God; if you have sinned—go to God, because in God all things are possible. He promises that after you have suffered for a little while He will restore you, and make you strong and steadfast.
One of the tools God uses to keep us strong is each other. “Resist Him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” says verse 9. Perhaps we may not struggle with physical persecution, but because of that we are in constant danger of being passive in our faith, we become nominal Christians. Instead we need to hold each other and ourselves accountable. Consider the following: It is a blessing when a teacher rebukes someone about to tell a coarse joke. It is very kind when a friend helps you with homework rather than letting you get late marks. It is good when somebody says “I don’t want to hear it” when somebody is about to spill a juicy story about another person. These are the people who help us in our walk, convicting us when we do wrong or are about to go astray, but doing it in a loving way...as part of the “brotherhood”.
We can use the roles God has given us to make a positive difference in our school today. Teachers...be kind and compassionate (as always) yet also firm and willing to rebuke when necessary. Students...help each other, work hard, respect your elders, and encourage the teachers. Be accountable to each other and to God so that you will always have strength to resist the devil and overcome trials and sufferings. Be humble so that He may lift you up in due time.
1 Peter 3:8-9
“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so you may inherit blessing.”
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