Asking for Help

Scripture – 1 Peter 5:12-14: With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Observation – With these thoughts Peter ends his letter. He’s written it “with the help of Silas.” What kind of help did Silas provide? The conventional thought is that Peter dictated while Silas wrote. Yet how much more could Silas have helped? With suggested wording of various passages? With the arrangement of ideas? By suggesting different illustrations? We'll never know any of that. What we can know is that Peter, the acknowledged leader of the early church, asked for help. I still tend to work alone. Part of that is pride – pure and simple. I want to do something myself. I’m involved in a couple projects like that right now. Yet part of being the church is relying on one another. It’s not what “I” do, but what “we” do for Christ and His mission. Working together, we can do a better and more effective job than I can do working alone.

Application – I will reach out and ask for help in one of those projects – beginning today.

Prayer – Lord, thank you for your grace. Thank you for bringing me into the Bethel community. Show me again how to ask for help and how to let people help me. Thank you again for your peace and your promise.