The Story: We might be thinking, “Well, hey, if I’m busy submitting to everyone and his brother, and looking out for their needs more than my own, who’s gonna look out for me?” Peter says the Lord will look out for us. We must not allow anxiousness about our personal needs to overwhelm us. Rather, if we continue reaching out to others, we will find the Lord Himself there to attend to the matters that matter to us. And He will typically do this by other submissive-and-service-minded believers reaching out to us in love. We cast our anxieties on the Lord as we turn to Him prayer, giving up our fears and worries to Him, and letting Him worry about what we need. Of course, the Lord never worries; He simply takes care of us, just as He always has and always will (Heb. 13.5). Rather than worry, rejoice (Jms. 1.2-4). Rather than cower or cringe, submit and serve. God will take care of the rest.

The Structure: When we are living in the hope of glory, the world cannot help but see a different countenance and demeanor in us (1 Pet. 3.15). But when we get caught up in the fears and follies of our secular and materialist age – always running about here and there, trying to satisfy our wants and further our feeling of success – we only show the watching world a reflection of itself. Living as a Christian requires a new set of disciplines to bring our new mindset to fruition in everyday life. True believers will relish the challenge of thinking with the mind of Christ and living in His power.

What does it mean for you to “think with the mind of Christ”? How does that affect your daily life?

Each week’s studies in our Scriptorium column are available in a free PDF form, suitable for personal or group use. For this week’s study, “Living the Glory: 1 Peter 5,” simply click here.

T. M. Moore

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.