Serve God Willingly

I Peter 5:1-14

The elders among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

² Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to the will of God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

³ neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.

⁴ And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away.

⁵ Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.

⁶ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time;

⁷ casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you.

⁸ Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour,

⁹ whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world.

¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you.

¹¹ To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

¹² By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I account him, I have written unto you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand ye fast therein.

¹³ She that is in Babylon, elect together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Mark my son.

¹⁴ Salute one another with a kiss of love. Peace be unto you all that are in Christ.