1 Peter 5:6 (English Standard Version)
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God
so that at the proper time he may exalt you.
So just how do we humble ourselves before God?
Past talking, past religious posturing, past the stuff we do to impress people.
How do we impress God with our humility?
It occurred to me one day reading through this text that specific to this setting we humble ourselves before God when we humble ourselves before each other.
1 Peter 5:5 (English Standard Version)
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders.
Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another,
for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
So maybe the next time we pray “Oh, God, I humble myself before you” that we don’t miss the opportunity to clothe ourselves with humility when we interact with our sisters and brothers in Christ.
Because if we don’t, then it is only talk.
Our lips draw us near to God but we keep our hearts at a safe distance. After all, we wouldn’t want to lose control, would we?
And thus the sadness of religious emptiness. Only following Jesus with our lips will never bring us to the fullness of God. Lip-following doesn’t get us close enough for a drink of his living water.
The big gulp of life as God pours it out it comes when we release control or our lives, when we close in on God with our hearts open wide.
Romans 5:5 (English Standard Version)
And hope does not put us to shame, because Gods love has been
poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
I’ll take me some of that, now!
