Scripture:
I Peter 5:5-11 NKJV
[5] Likewise, you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” [6] Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, [7] casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. [8] Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. [9] Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. [10] But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. [11] To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Observation:
After all that had happened when Christ was on the earth and Peter walked with HIM if there is one thing that Peter ate a lot of is humble pie. Over and over again, we see Peter being corrected by the LORD. He thought he knew a better way than what GOD had intended from the very start, and it caused a lot of problems in his life. The important thing is that Peter learned from his mistakes. He may have learned the hard way, but he learned none the less. Having an opportunity to pass on some of what he had learned here in 1st Peter. I believe his desire is to make sure others don’t have to learn the hard way. Here in chapter 5, Peter is telling us the secret to a successful relationship with Jesus. In verse 5, he states a word to young people that seems to be somewhat difficult for young people to understand,” submit. ” Maybe I should just say it was difficult for me to understand. What I believe Peter is saying in this verse is that with age comes wisdom. So when the younger submits to the elder, they are, in a sense, learning from mistakes that someone else has made and felt the pain of. The instructions to “Cloth yourselves in humility” are Peter’s way of saying that if you will realize that this elder that you are is older and more experienced in life you may save yourself some very embarrassingly painful moment. You don’t know it all. Now, I want to point out that in the first 2 verses that w were chosen this morning, the word “humble” or “humility” has been used 3 times. To me, that’s Peter’s way of making a point, and honestly, it takes me back to a few moments in the scripture. When Peter’s pride and arrogance grabbed the full attention of Jesus. Once, when he thought he knew better than GOD and made that evident by telling Jesus there is no way I’m going to let them take you and nail you to a cross, and the second time when even after being corrected by the LORD Jesus Christ in a very sharp way, Peter tried to kill one of the guards as they arrested Jesus, and again was rebuked by the LORD. 2 very painfully embarrassing moments. Peter knew what it was like to be humbled by the LORD. So when he is speaking here, it’s from his experience. He had seen his own pride be resisted and corrected right in front of all his brothers. He didn’t understand the plan, and Jesus made that clear to him more than once. I could almost see him sitting down writing this letter thinking about what it was like to walk with the LORD of all the earth. All the things that had transpired and what HE had learned from them. Sitting down to write so that others would have a picture of what not to do. He knew the pain of pride, and after being flogged for his belief in Christ, he knew what it felt like to suffer as well, and that’s the information he chose to pass on. That’s what he wanted to teach. He wanted all believers to know that the suffering here on earth is temporary and that at just the right time, the LORD will exalt you. I believe his statements in verses 7 and 8 are not necessarily referring to drugs and alcohol. However, they are never a good idea, but I believe the word cares is an indicator that he is referring to emotions and not reacting from them. They can have an intoxicating power, where you do and say things you normally wouldn’t, and honestly, the enemy likes to use that against us. I believe Peter of all people would know this. Being called Satan and told he was not thinking of the things of GOD, but he was thinking of the things of man. His plea to resist the devil is a cry for us not to react from how we feel but frin what GODS word says. Doing that is going to take a lot of humility. It’s going to take knowing that what GOD days is truth no matter how you feel about it. As Peter is writing, I can see his continents changing as he feels the fact that he of all people gets the opportunity to share his experiences so that others may be able to navigate through this life without the same kind of mistake. Through his humbling experience, he is being exalted and established by the one who can not be rebuked.
Application:
GOD word is so powerful. HE has such an incredible way of dealing with us sheep. All the mistakes we make the things we say without thinking. Letting our emotions get the best of us. Over 2000 years ago, HE had a plan that HE set in motion for you to be reading HIS word right now. Knowing that this would be the topic and that you would need to hear it. Being humble a lot of times is not something we choose to do most of the time. In fact, for me, anyways it’s comes from something I have had the pain of experiencing. I wonder how much easier it would be if. We would just learn from the mistakes of others. I can’t tell you how many times someone has told me not to go that way, and I went anyway only to find out they were right. As I read GOD’S word and learn how to apply HIS principles to my life. I realize that my painful moments are learning opportunities, and if I just submit to the suffering (that’s truly only temporary, although it may not feel that way), I may be able to be strengthened and encouraged in the end. Knowing that GOD’S promises are yes and amen. This life, no matter how hard it may be, is not the finish line. Eternal glory is. Staying true to the word of GOD is not always going to be easy. In fact, it’s going to take some humility. People are not going to understand why you are not doing what they are doing. The Bible says ALL who choose to live godly will be persecuted. That’s saying it will happen, so prepare for it, humble yourself before GOD because HE has a plan for HIS glory through your persecution. Let’s just take a quick look at what Jesus endured so that you can read GOD’S word and be set free. HE humbled HIMSELF, taking on the lowly servant position so that HIS heavenly father would give HIM the name above all names. Suffering here to be exalted there. Whatever you are going through, it’s only temporary. Find out what needs to be learned and commit it to memory. Then, as you get older, you can pass that on. You do not know better than GOD HIS plan is perfect, and yes, it may include some suffering. But a humble position will get you a lot further than the pride of thinking you have it all figured out.
Prayer:
Father, you know way more than we do. Help us to live according to what your word says. We know that you are not trying to take something from us, but you are trying to help us see that the desires of our flesh are not good for us. Help us to think clearly and move according to what you say and not according to how we feel. We know that our emotions are temporary, and you think eternally. Help us to keep our eyes on you and speak your words over our situations rather than what we think and feel. You have already given us victory. may we approach every situation we come up against standing on the promises that you have given us. Tge battle has already been won, the victory is ours, we are more than conquerors, the head and not the tail. You are the LORD, and if you are for us, no one can stand against us. Help us to see ourselves the way that you see us.its in the might name of Jesus we pray amen.