Why should we examine Peter’s inspired letters?
Although Peter addressed his letters to the first-century Christians, Jehovah made these writings part of His Word. So we can now benefit from those letters. Rom. 15:4 also shows that all the things written are for our own instruction.
Furthermore, Living in a world that promotes unclean conduct just like Peter’s day, we also face trials that can make it difficult to serve Jehovah.
Furthermore, we will soon experience a tribulation greater than the one that brought an end to the Jewish systems in those days.
We also find some vital reminders in Peter’s two letters. The reminders will help us to keep in expectation of Jehovah’s day, overcome fear of man, and cultivate intense love for one another.
Some of the reminders in the inspired letters can also help elders see how to care successfully for the needs of the flock.
How could fear of man affect us?
Fear of man may lead us to hesitate to speak up for Jehovah when the opportunity comes. May we never fall into the snare of denying our Father Jehovah or Jesus the Chief perfecter of our faith. So, whether we are in the field service or we want to witness informally, may we never let the fear of man affect us negatively.
On one occasion, how did Peter fail to show love?
Peter learned how to succeed in showing love, on one occasion he failed to show love. Because of hypocrisy and fear of man, Peter failed to display love he later gave in to pressure and refused to eat with his Gentile brothers and sisters that he had been eating with, only because his Jewish brothers were present.
What is involved in loving others “intensely from the heart”?
Intense love involves stretching the limits of our natural inclination to love. An example is when a brother offends or hurts us in some way. Our instinct may be to retaliate rather than to show love. We show intense love, we show kindness and we are considerate even to those who may have hurt us.
Also, for us to do that properly, we need adhere to what Peter wrote: “Do not pay back injury for injury or insult for insult. Instead, repay with a blessing.” (1 Pet. 3:9)
In what ways might we apply lessons we have learned from Peter’s letters?
To apply the lessons in which we want to improve, we need to isolate various points. We need to meditate more often on the blessings to come in the new world, set the goal of witnessing at work, at school, or in some other informal setting, show intense love for our brothers and sisters more fully.
Elders must be determined to shepherd Jehovah’s sheep willingly and eagerly.