Isaiah 46-49; I Peter 5

“Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’.” I Peter 5:5


Although this portion gives instruction to elders and to the young, it’s overall message is to ‘all of you’.  All of us are called to humility; in fact, humility is a quality that pleases God’s heart in such a way that  it is through humility God’s grace is able to flow freely in our lives and ministry.    In Micah 6:8 it says, “He has shown you oh man what is good and what the Lord requires of you; but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly before your God.”  Humility is a beautiful thing and it is often this very quality that brings people to Christ when they see Christians acting in this manner.  My brother pastored a church in Barstow, probably one of the hottest and most desolate places to live.  Robert decided to find out who the people were that were shut ins that were or had once been a part of the congregation.  He found that there was a woman in a convalescent home, who had faithfully attended the church for many years.  Robert visited her and ministered to her and she so wanted to go back to church.  He arranged to pick her up and bring her the next Sunday.  When he arrived that morning to pick her up the home hadn’t properly dressed her but he was determined because she longed  so  much to be in church again.  He carefully carried her to his car and drove her to the church.  When he pulled up in front of the building he again picked her up and began carrying her in to the building.  There was a woman from his church who had an unsaved husband and that morning she had talked her husband in to coming with her.  As they were walking in to the building his wife said , “Oh look that’s Pastor Robert now, the one carrying the woman.” This man was so touched by this act of humble service that he gave his life to Christ that morning and became one of the most outstanding servants in that ministry.  He personally told me his testimony and said that when he saw my brother carrying that woman it melted his heart.  I am reminded of the story of the Good Samaritan--many people passed by the injured man but only one stopped .  This act was one of justice, mercy and humility as Micah 6:8 says.  Notice that Peter says to ‘clothe’ yourselves, all of you…this takes action, we must put on humility, this is a decision.  So today, let’s not pass by any opportunities to be clothed in humility and let’s experience the grace God gives to the humble. Let’s be God’s hands, feet and heart of love to touch the world.

Walking in Him,
Carol

Tomorrow's Reading: Isaiah 50-52; Psalm 92; 2 Peter 1