"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 Pet 5:6-7
Humility is not a trait that comes naturally to most people. It only develops as a matter of circumstance or of will. There are many things in life that can drive us to our knees but the least painful distance to the floor is through the path of simple obedience to God.
When you think about pride (placing oneself above others or an over estimate of one's means or merits), there is little good that comes from it. Pride almost necessarily includes the demeaning of others. It shouts, "I do not need anything from anyone and I pull myself up by my own bootstraps." This attitude can find that person alone and without at their greatest time of need and without doubt, that time inevitably comes. What is God to do with or for those who do not want or need Him?
Beloved, God desires that we rely fully upon him. Prov 3:5 reminds us to "Trust in God with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding." Have you ever seen that trust exercise where a person crosses their arms over their chest and falls backwards, relying on someone to catch them? This is the word picture behind trust. A proud person would pad the ground in advance to avoid injury in case "plan A" fails. There is no back up to God. He is absolutely trustworthy and will do exceedingly and abundantly more than we could ever hope or dream. He not only catches us but lifts up. Those who refuse to humble themselves are in danger of being left to their own fallible devices.
Whatever challenge, problem, sorrow, pain or even pleasant expectation of eternity we may have, we must rely fully on Him who made us. Pride can never save you, but God, in His own time, does. This a truly humbling thought.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
Showing posts with label 1 Pet 5:6-7. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1 Pet 5:6-7. Show all posts
Friday, June 22, 2012
Friday, August 12, 2011
Take it to God-9/12/2011
"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 Pet 5:6-7
Having addressed the elders of the flock to lead with righteousness and humility, the apostle Peter turns his attention to the members of the body and gives them this twofold advice. First, we are to humble ourselves. This humility involves first becoming subservient to God. Too often we march to the beat of our own drum when it is neither our drum or ability derived from self to play it. We must remember the Lord in all things we do and do them as we are performing them both for Him and under his loving and watchful eye. This humility extends to those whom He has given charge over us, particularly in the church. "He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering..." Eph 4:11. We are to accept their headship as it relates to our spiritual lives because God has so placed them.
Peter then advises that all place their cares and concerns upon God. In truth, He is the only one that can handle them anyway. He is the source of all righteousness but He is also the source for all provision. There is nothing that is too hard for the Lord. When man lets us down, God is there. And though He will see to our needs (and many wants) in His own due time and in His own way, not one among us can look back and fail to see Him moving and working in our lives. In fact, we ought to be able to look into our present circumstances and see the same thing. This then gives confidence that He is already working out our future.
Beloved, we must strive daily to make God real in our lives. This is not to question His existence but to encourage us to bring Him from the theoretical to the actual in our own minds and hearts. Remember that Yahweh is self existent and does not need us to believe in order for Him to be. He is the great I AM, revealing that if there is nothing else that exists, He does. This, among so many other things, makes Him worthy of our trust and confidence. In all that we may do, experience or even suffer, know that He, as a mother of a new born infant, cares for us.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Having addressed the elders of the flock to lead with righteousness and humility, the apostle Peter turns his attention to the members of the body and gives them this twofold advice. First, we are to humble ourselves. This humility involves first becoming subservient to God. Too often we march to the beat of our own drum when it is neither our drum or ability derived from self to play it. We must remember the Lord in all things we do and do them as we are performing them both for Him and under his loving and watchful eye. This humility extends to those whom He has given charge over us, particularly in the church. "He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering..." Eph 4:11. We are to accept their headship as it relates to our spiritual lives because God has so placed them.
Peter then advises that all place their cares and concerns upon God. In truth, He is the only one that can handle them anyway. He is the source of all righteousness but He is also the source for all provision. There is nothing that is too hard for the Lord. When man lets us down, God is there. And though He will see to our needs (and many wants) in His own due time and in His own way, not one among us can look back and fail to see Him moving and working in our lives. In fact, we ought to be able to look into our present circumstances and see the same thing. This then gives confidence that He is already working out our future.
Beloved, we must strive daily to make God real in our lives. This is not to question His existence but to encourage us to bring Him from the theoretical to the actual in our own minds and hearts. Remember that Yahweh is self existent and does not need us to believe in order for Him to be. He is the great I AM, revealing that if there is nothing else that exists, He does. This, among so many other things, makes Him worthy of our trust and confidence. In all that we may do, experience or even suffer, know that He, as a mother of a new born infant, cares for us.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
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