“To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed:” 

Peter was writing to fellow pastors. Although he was an apostle, he recognized he was a fellow elder. What is important is that we are all under Jesus. He was with Jesus. He had seen Jesus. He had heard Jesus. He watched Him perform miracles. Jesus was his personal Rabbi while on earth.

There are times when I am envious of those first twelve who could sit at Jesus’ feet and ask Him questions, delight in His presence, and share in His ministry. Then I remember that such a call to each of the twelve was a call to death. It was a commitment that it was not going to be easy to share the good news with the world in which some were saved, and many were violently opposed. It was a ministry that did not promise financial security, or good home life, or retirement and comfortable houses. It was a call that would demand more of them than fishing and receiving taxes.

When I was going through a career fair as a senior at Michigan State University, there was a representative from some company that grabbed my hand and shook it and said I’m looking for someone who is interested in making lots of money. I looked and him and said that it was not my interest. He returned the surprise look and said, “Then I’m not interested in talking with you.” I am sure that he had lots of takers who might have shown interest in his company.

As I continued down the rows of representatives from other potential employers, there was a sign that caught my attention. It was handwritten. “Lousy pay, hard work, many long hours, but GREAT RETIREMENT.” As I stopped, I saw it was an advertisement for ministry.

The great retirement, that was worthy of Peter’s commitment, was glory. He had seen the suffering of Jesus Christ. Through Christ’s suffering came salvation to the world, to all and any who put their faith in His death, burial and resurrection. It was the atonement that captured Peter’s zeal.

Peter’s faithfulness to the task of reaching a lost world was the sharing in glory with His master and Lord. His work was a work of faith. Glory was to be revealed at time known only to God. Peter was as certain of it as he was of anything in this world. Who would have thought God would send His Son to suffer for our sins? The resurrection changed Peter’s life. He had a new purpose. When Jesus promised to come again, that was a promise without question because of all that Peter experienced. He knew God keeps His promises.

Application:   We are not saved by our works, but there are rewards for being faithful laborers for the Master. That is a greater retirement than any plan can offer.  Be a faithful laborer for the Master!

Prayer:   Oh that I might be called faithful and work out my faith for my Master.