The book of 1 Peter concludes today with a short chapter including an exhortation to the elders of the churches to whom Peter is writing and a general admonition to resist the devil and remain humble. As he addresses the elders, those who were in charge of overseeing the local congregations of believers, Peter encourages them to shepherd God’s flock out of love and not for lesser reasons. Consider, friends, that when Peter had betrayed Jesus by denying him three times, Christ restored Peter threefold by telling him to feed and shepherd his sheep. The admonition that Christ gave to Peter, he now passes on to others who seek to love the Lord through the service of teaching and leading.