“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.”” – 1 Peter 5:5
When I say, “Submit yourself,” what is your response? Does it feel offensive?
Submissiveness can be difficult. You have to humble yourself and put the needs of others above yourself…and your ego. We are called to submit ourselves to those who are older and respect them. This shouldn’t be too shocking, but it may still be offensive. Teenagers and preteens tend to have a lot of difficulty with this one.
(If you have preteens or teens in your household, take a few minutes to discuss this.)
Adults…You Too
Our passage, today, goes even further than just telling the young to submit to their elders. We ALL are called to humble ourselves towards one another. In other words, we are to humble ourselves to everyone, to consider others and their needs more important than our own.
Humility is Hard!
Humility and submission go against our sinful nature. We are, by nature, proud and selfish. We usually think of ourself, first, and others, maybe. When we see two slices of cake, we want to take the larger slice. We cut people off in traffic. We _______ (fill in the blank.)
Thankfully, we have a God who not only calls us to humility but came to us humbly.
This is the mindset of Jesus:
“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” – Philippians 2:5-8
In humility, Christ came, served us, and died for us that we might be forgiven of our sin (even the sin of pride) and saved. Being freed from sin, we are now called to live as Christ lived, in humble service towards one another.
In our relationships with one another, we are to have the same mindset as Christ.
Heavenly Father,
All too often I act out of pride and selfishness. I fear being taken advantage of and I desire to be lifted up. I humbly confess this and ask Your forgiveness. Thank You for humbling Yourself and dying for me. Help me to live as You did, humbly serving others in Your name. Help me, especially, to submit to my elders.
Amen
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
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