Clothe Yourselves with Humility
Date: March 11, 2023
I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional.
B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Word and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study and savor
S - Summarize and Share
You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?
Bible Scripture Verse – 1 Peter 5:5
"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.'"
Listen for God’s Voice
Heavenly Father, help me to submit to those who are older and wiser than me. May I always treat others with humility and respect, putting their needs before my own. Help me to recognize the dangers of pride and to strive for humility in all aspects of my life. Thank you for your love and guidance. Amen.
Explore History – Who wrote it, when and to what audience? Key people in the story?
The author is believed to be the apostle Peter, one of Jesus' twelve disciples. The letter was written to Christians who were facing persecution and suffering for their faith. It is believed to have been written in the late 1st century AD, possibly between 70-90 AD.
1 Peter was written to the believers who were scattered throughout various regions of the Roman Empire, including Asia Minor, Galatia, and Cappadocia. They were areas where Christianity was not the dominant religion and Christians faced persecution and social ostracism.
Today’s verse is part of a larger passage where Peter is giving instructions to the elders and the younger members of the church. He encourages the younger members to submit to the authority of their elders and to clothe themselves with humility towards one another. Peter then quotes from Proverbs 3:34 to emphasize the importance of humility and the dangers of pride. This passage is meant to provide guidance and encouragement to Christians who are facing difficulties and trials, urging them to persevere and remain faithful to God.
Study and Savor – Key Words
"you who are younger": This phrase refers to the younger members of the Christian community, who are being addressed by Peter in this passage.
"submit yourselves": This phrase means to willingly place oneself under the authority of another. Peter is instructing the younger members of the church to submit to the authority of their elders.
"elders": This term refers to the older, more experienced members of the Christian community who hold positions of leadership and authority.
"clothe yourselves with humility": This phrase means to intentionally adopt a mindset of humility and to treat others with respect and deference. Peter is urging all members of the church to embrace humility as a virtue and to demonstrate it towards one another.
"God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble": This is a quotation from Proverbs 3:34, which emphasizes the importance of humility and warns against the dangers of pride. Peter is using this quotation to reinforce his message about the importance of humility in the Christian community.
Summarize and Share
Submission. It’s such a strong word! Some people immediately bristle when they hear that word. I think that is because they feel like they will lose control if they are submissive. Or that they will get hurt because they don’t trust someone in authority. For some, it’s a matter of pride. We may feel we know more than those in authority. But I think one of the biggest reasons is that they don’t fully understand the meaning of submission. Some people think of it as being weak, when in reality, it’s a powerful act of choosing to place yourself under the guidance and authority of another person.
So what lessons about submission and humility can we learn from today’s verse?
First, Peter instructs the younger members of the church to submit to their elders. This means that we should honor and respect the wisdom and experience of those who have gone before us in the faith. We can do this by seeking out their guidance and counsel, listening to their stories, and valuing their contributions to the church.
But submission is not just limited to the church context. In our daily lives, we are called to submit to those who have authority over us, whether it be in the workplace, in our families, or in our communities. This means respecting our bosses, parents, teachers, and government leaders, even if we may not always agree with them.
But, submission should not be confused with blind obedience. We are called to use our own judgment and discernment, and to question authority when it conflicts with our conscience or with God's Word. But even in such situations, we are called to approach others with humility, recognizing that we ourselves are not infallible and that we may have something to learn from those with whom we disagree.
So how do we clothe ourselves in humility today? We can start by intentionally cultivating an attitude of humility in our hearts and minds, recognizing that we are all imperfect and in need of grace. We can seek to learn from others, listen to their perspectives, and put their needs before our own. We can also practice humility by acknowledging our mistakes, apologizing when we are wrong, and seeking to make amends.
Humility and submission are virtues that are as relevant today as they were in Peter's time. By submitting to our elders and embracing humility in our daily lives, we can cultivate a spirit of unity, respect, and love in our communities and bring glory to God.
Bible Cross Reference
James 4:6 - "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'" This verse speaks to the importance of humility, which is also emphasized in 1 Peter 5:5.
Proverbs 3:34 - "Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor." This verse reinforces the idea that God is pleased with those who are humble and submit to His will.
Philippians 2:3-4 - "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." This passage encourages believers to have a selfless and humble attitude, similar to what Peter is exhorting in 1 Peter 5:5.
Hebrews 13:17 - "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you." This verse also emphasizes the importance of submission to those in positions of authority, including church leaders.