The Lord my Protector

In the words of Peter in 1 Peter 1:5 he answered concerns that might have arisen in the minds of the persecuted believers like: What good is an inheritance in heaven kept safe and sound, if we are not kept safe and sound here on earth? Will we be able to endure and remain faithful to Christ if persecution becomes more intense?


The verse says "Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." KJV "who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." NASB

Not only is our inheritance reserved for us as we saw in verse four, but the believer is kept / protected by the Lord as we see in verse five. Peter explained that, in spite of persecution and even violent death, believers are being protected. The word translated "protected" (guarded, shielded) is phrouroumenous, a military term used to refer to a garrison within a city (see also 2 Thessalonians 3:3; Jude 24). It's an inner area of protection; though the city wall is taken, the garrison is not. No matter how the world persecuted or killed believers' bodies, God was guarding their souls. The tense of the verb in the Greek reveals that we are constantly being guarded by God.

Such comforting words, we may have to endure trials, persecution, or violent death, but our souls cannot be harmed if we have accepted Christ's gift of salvation. As scripture says, "for me to live is Christ, to die is gain" Satan may break our bodies down but he cannot take our soul!
The attack and persecution of Christians is only getting stronger and it will only get worse. We need to be encouraged that God is guarding us, that it is through his power that we will endure.
I pray you find comfort in these words as you go through the challenges of life knowing that God is always with you guarding you.