Let's open with prayer! Jesus, Open my heart and my mind to what You have for me through Your word and by your Spirit this day! I receive your leadership and authority as I read this text of scripture, please speak to my heart and mind! Amen!
Todays verses are 1 Peter 5:5-11,
5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Sometimes I don't want to reach out to get the help I need! It takes humility to reach out for help - it takes humility to "be cared for"! Sometimes I am embarrassed to reach out for help, or counsel, or advise because I think I should know how to do it myself or I don't want others to know I have a problems. The verses highlighted above are particularly poignant when I consider they come from the pen of Peter. Peter, writing later in his life would no doubt remember those earlier times following Jesus when he, filled with pride, boasted of how strong and vibrant a follower of Jesus he was - or at least he thought he was. Peter knows the sting of being humbled by circumstances and by Jesus. Now Peter, decades later, seems to be saying to me, "delton, why wait to be humbled by God or by circumstances ... why not "humble yourself under God's mighty hand"! It is as if God is calling me to a way living that is "self-humbling - proactively humble"! The motivation Peter provides is helpful. Humble yourself because: - your under God's mighty hand, -God resists the proud, -God gives grace to the humble, -God will lift to up, -God cares for you!" Those are great motivations - this list of realities about God fuels my quest to "humble myself"! These are all great realities to rehearse into my heart this day so I can truly answer the Jesus call, "Come to Me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest!"
How are you moved by these words from God through Peter? How does this call to 'self-humbling' resonate with you? How about the promises embedded in Peter's words! How are they helpful for you?
Have and Awesome day! delton