July 26 - Humble Yourselves

 Read today’s texts first: Isaiah 46-49; 1 Peter 5

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Pride is public enemy #1
and if we don’t deal with it, God will!

Even though all of Scripture is God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16), He still chose particular human authors to write these inspired thoughts. He also allowed for His words to be conveyed through their own unique style and personality. I think of these things whenever I read Peter’s letters, just because we know so much about his brash behaviour. Throughout his internship with Jesus, Peter suffered from a chronic case of “foot in mouth” disease.

Peter matured quickly after the death of Jesus. His arrogance was crushed under the pressure of persecution the night of Christ’s crucifixion. It looked like all the progress he had made in walking with Jesus for at least two years was gone, wiped out in one moment of testing. He was back to his old ways, cursing like a Galilean fisherman, denying he even met Jesus. But after a couple of days in deep remorse, a tender time of restoration with His risen Lord, and a dramatic baptism with the Holy Spirit, the new Peter fully emerges. He quickly rises to prominence in the formation of the early church.

So when he speaks through this letter to other church leaders about humility, from his own testimony of dramatic life change, inspired by the Holy Spirit, we need to pay attention: All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time (5:5b,6).

God is saying, and Peter is saying, if you don’t humble yourselves, God will. Pride keeps us from God. Apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5); with Him we can do all things (Phil. 4:13). It’s really quite simple - pride is public enemy #1, and if we don’t deal with it, God will.

That’s exactly what Isaiah is saying to Judah, Israel, and Babylon as well: See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another (48:10,11).

“Lord, thank You that I do have the option of humbling myself, because I know what it’s like to be humbled by You. This morning I dress myself with well-deserved humility toward You and everyone I meet today!”