Letters to the Churches

As each one has received some spiritual gift, he should use it to serve others, like good managers of God’s many-sided grace —

if someone speaks, let him speak God’s words; if someone serves, let him do so out of strength that God supplies; so that in everything God may be glorified through Yeshua the Messiah — to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

Dear friends, don’t regard as strange the fiery ordeal occurring among you to test you, as if something extraordinary were happening to you.

Rather, to the extent that you share the fellowship of the Messiah’s sufferings, rejoice; so that you will rejoice even more when his Sh’khinah is revealed.

If you are being insulted because you bear the name of the Messiah, how blessed you are! For the Spirit of the Sh’khinah, that is, the Spirit of God, is resting on you!

Let none of you suffer for being a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or a meddler in other people’s affairs.

But if anyone suffers for being Messianic, let him not be ashamed; but let him bring glory to God by the way he bears this name.

For the time has come for the judgment to begin. It begins with the household of God; and if it starts with us, what will the outcome be for those who are disobeying God’s Good News? —

“If the righteous is barely delivered, where will the ungodly and sinful end up?”

So let those who are suffering according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator by continuing to do what is good.

Therefore, I urge the congregation leaders among you, as a fellow-leader and witness to the Messiah’s sufferings, as well as a sharer in the glory to be revealed:

shepherd the flock of God that is in your care, exercising oversight not out of constraint, but willingly, as God wants; and not out of a desire for dishonest gain, but with enthusiasm;

also not as machers domineering over those in your care, but as people who become examples to the flock.

Then, when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive glory as your unfading crown.

Likewise, you who are less experienced, submit to leaders. Further, all of you should clothe yourselves in humility toward one another, because God opposes the arrogant, but to the humble he gives grace.

Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that at the right time he may lift you up.

Throw all your anxieties upon him, because he cares about you.

Stay sober, stay alert! Your enemy, the Adversary, stalks about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Stand against him, firm in your trust, knowing that your brothers throughout the world are going through the same kinds of suffering.

You will have to suffer only a little while; after that, God, who is full of grace, the one who called you to his eternal glory in union with the Messiah, will himself restore, establish and strengthen you and make you firm.

To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

Through Sila, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written you briefly, encouraging you and giving my witness that this is God’s true grace. Stand firm in it!

Your sister congregation in Bavel, chosen along with you, sends greetings to you, as does my son Mark.

Greet each other with a kiss of love. “Shalom aleikhem!” to all who belong to the Messiah.

From: Shim‘on Kefa, a slave and emissary of Yeshua the Messiah To: Those who, through the righteousness of our God and of our Deliverer Yeshua the Messiah, have been given the same kind of trust as ours: