READING: Obadiah, Jeremiah 40-42, Psalm 147, 1 Peter 5
I love this line from New Testament scholar Tom Schreiner: “Humility is the oil that allows relationships in the church to run smoothly and lovingly.”* The words are not numerous, but they say much. When we live humbly, we aren’t bothered when others get glory. Nor do we come out fighting when others disagree with us. Folks clothed in humility remain teachable and wise; that is, they wisely know they still have much to learn, and they’ve also learned much through the years. All of us, whether we are older or younger, must exhibit humility toward others.
As Peter so clearly reminds us in today’s reading, “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Pet 5:5). Walking in humility is seldom easy, however. Not only does our fallen heart tend toward arrogance, but we also tend to live in self-dependence and personal strength. In addition, humility requires us to put others before ourselves—and not many of us lean in that direction. Instead, we strive for success, for achievement, and for recognition. Most of us continually live on the edge of pride; in fact, we have just proven that point when we think otherwise about ourselves.
Our response, therefore, should always be to humble ourselves “under the hand of God” (1 Pet 5:6) and toward one another. We take those steps only in His power and under His grace.
PRAYER: “God, humble me. Help me.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Obadiah, Jeremiah 43-44, 46; 2 Peter 1
———-
* T. R. Schreiner, (2003). 1, 2 Peter, Jude (Vol. 37, p. 238). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.