"You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders, and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, FOR GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."
1 Peter 5:5-7
This week we are looking at 1 Peter, chapter five. Peter is writing to aliens scattered like Israel of old throughout the world. The readers of this epistle are predominantly of Gentile backgrounds rather than Jewish. Their situation was one of suffering and trial that often comes to Christians as they live faithfully in a pagan and hostile society much like today. They are suffering forms of persecutions such as slander, local police action, social ostracism and riots. They are encouraged to rejoice, and live above such reproach.
Peter instructs the younger men to be subject to the elders, but the next command is to all: "Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another."
God opposes the proud. but gives grace to the humble. God hates pride because it is at the root of every sin. Pride destroys relationships. When we are proud we are feeling pride, or satisfaction with ourselves. Pride is of the flesh that wars against the Spirit. Remember our flesh cannot bear good fruit. It comes very naturally for us to be prideful and proud apart from the help of the Holy Spirit. Proud, prideful people live for themselves, and for their own glory.
Peter tells all of us to clothe ourselves in humility. How do we do that? First we must understand apart from the Holy Spirit ‘s help we cannot be humble. Secondly, we go to scripture for guidance and knowledge of truth that sets us free from our flesh. In Phillipians chapter two we find answers. Philippians 2:3-4 declares:
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."
We must realize this is not our nature. It is God’s nature. Jesus manifested who God is to us. So let’s look at the ultimate act of humility in the history of the world. Philippians 2:5-11 proclaims:
"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondslave, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to glory of God the Father."
He emptied Himself, and took the form of a bondslave. This is how we are to clothe ourselves with humility. As Peter taught we must humble ourselves as Jesus did under the mighty hand of God, and God will exalt the humble at His proper time. We see how our Father highly exalted His Son’s humble obedience, and bestowed on Him the name above all names! At the proper time EVERY KNEE WILL BOW and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father! You have a choice to bow now, and confess Him as Lord, or you will bow then, even if under the earth. No one is excluded.
Peter then instructs us to cast all our anxieties on Him, because He cares for us. This is an act of humility also. We must empty ourselves out before Him, and allow Him to care for His own. He then gives us sobering instruction in the final verses in 5:8-11:
"Be sober of spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist Him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever, Amen."
What glorious scriptures we have covered today! Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, or right thinking. Let’s allow it to do it’s work in our hearts and in our lives that we might become humble in all our ways, obeying our Lord to the point of daily death to our flesh, that we might live according to the Spirit. May we be sober and alert in these last days, resisting the devil, firm in our faith. May we look forward to, and eagerly await our deliverance from this world, for the one to come when every wrong will be made right. God help us stand firm in our faith so that we may receive the promise that He Himself will perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish us!
In His love.
Teresa Roberts
Masterpiece Fitness
276-237-6680
This week I attended the graduation of my two oldest grandchildren, Caitlin and Isaiah McCaskill.
