So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

    I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

    your rod and your staff,

    they comfort me.

 

 

 

Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you. So you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him.

 

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

 

And if He has redeemed me, I am not my own

The measure of my worth is His love alone

He declares my standing, and He declares my state

So I will know myself by the name He gave

 

 

 

After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 

Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Father, David sings of Your strength,
Your covenant faithfulness,
and how You have been a refuge for him
while evil men have waited to attach him.
He understood that You are in control of all circumstances.
He placed his faith and hope in You alone.
Not once did You abandon Your servant.
At the end of his life,
You ushered him into Your presence.
This is our great hope: to be with You forever.

 

Men may attack us and kill the body,
but they cannot kill the spirit.
We may experience suffering, conflict,
and great difficulty in this world,
but this world is not our home.
We look to a heavenly city
that You have prepared for us.
Yet in this life,
we yearn for the life to come.
We cry out, “How long, O Lord?
How long?”
Even in this,
we know that You have a perfect plan,
and we strive to trust You in it.

 

You tell us that our suffering
brings glory to our Savior.
Though we don’t fully understand this.
we rejoice that it is true.
Our suffering does not go unnoticed by You
and is not worthless to You,
so give us perseverance and joy in suffering.
Continue to make us more like our Savior.