“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time” (1 Peter 5:5,6).
On Tuesday mornings we visit Audrey’s, a home decor and gift wholesale distributor, in rural Lebanon County. Each visit I have the opportunity to lead the employees in a short devotional and prayer time. It is voluntary but the majority of employees attend and participate. Normally when I preach I prepare my sermons ahead of time, of course, but due to the brevity of about a five minute message at Audrey’s, I often look for a home decor item such as a plaque to illustrate a message and build on that. After all, the message is less than five minutes long.
As I began my message I held up the sweater and teasingly told the group I really liked it but couldn’t find the size and wasn’t sure it would fit. Of course they got a chuckle out of the absurdity of picturing me wearing the tiny sweater and being confused because it didn’t have the size marked.
I went on to read the daily verse and told the group that we should all own one item of clothing that fits all of us; We should all clothe ourselves with humility.
Moffatt writes the sense here is, “Put on the apron of humility” an appropriate paraphrase picturing the scarf or apron as the badge of a servant. How easily the world’s competitive spirit filters into the hearts of Christians and Christian workers who become envious of one another’s success. How seldom we think of ourselves as servants for Christ’s sake. (Precept Austin).
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3,4).
When we are clothed in humility we will consider others even more than ourselves which truly exemplifies a servant’s heart and Jesus was the supreme example of this.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we want to daily dress ourselves in humility, lest we walk in pride rather than servanthood. As God’s chosen people, we want to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Help us to bear with those whom we have grievance against. Help us to forgive even as You forgive us. And over all these virtues help us to put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity so that the body of Christ is united and You are well-pleased with us. Amen.
Prayer adapted from Colossians 3:12-14
