“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, be firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”- I Peter 5:7-11
Yesterday was a wonderful time for the church. Us being together and worshiping together is always a great and wonderful time. But then we wake up and its …MONDAY! (And the pastor gives us this text!) I give it as an encouragement not as a burden…for the Word is freeing, it is not a burden.
Considering this text, it is interesting how often the command to be humble comes into play for us when the Prophets or Jesus or the Apostles are directing us in how to hold up under the struggles we are “hit with” in this life. Humbleness enables us to stay focused on what matters most. When we are not humble we become fretful and defensive because we begin to think to highly of ourselves…thinking that we don’t deserve this…whatever “this” may be. Humbleness calls us to repentance so that we can be in the proper place before God to actually do as He commands, “Resist him, be firm in your faith” and then tohear the good news that He Himself will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish us. Only the humble will believe and experience this.
Only those who are humble will remember clearly that He desires to receive our anxieties because He cares for us (read loves us with a steadfast covenantal love forever)…then we can be sober-minded and watchful. These are words of hope not fear, encouragement not burden. “Sober-minded”, points to the fact that we are aware of our surroundings and we have judged everything through the grid of Scripture and understand God’s hand in things because we are relying on the Holy Spirit…think… thinking biblically strategically, since most of life is hard.
“Being watchful” is being diligent and aware again that there are forces “out there” seeking to unnerve us and weaken our witness. Watchful also, has in its meaning the idea of being prepared for battle and a willingness to call others to battle like the watchman on the watch tower watching for the enemies armies coming to attack…to warn others in time for them to prepare for battle. But also, (and a whole lot more fun) being watchful for the return of the KING! Like the virgins who kept the lamps full and lights lit awaiting the return of the Bridegroom…this is the KING of Glory.
In humbleness we know we need the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ which is continually coming at us (“…grace upon grace…”) so that we can resist the temptations and the struggles that Satan throws our way…everyday, so we can stand firm in the faith…which helps us stand back up again when knocked down…no matter what comes…which helps us recognizes at least two things: 1st, that we are not the only ones who are struggling, we aren’t struggling to the point of shedding blood like so many of our brothers and sisters around the world. 2nd, Christ suffered so much, even death on a criminals cross, so that we might in all humbleness depend upon Him for strength. For the only strength that really works is the strength that comes from the One who rose from the dead and reigns at the right hand of the Father…now that is power and strength that He gladly gives to the humble.
We will all suffer…don’t let anyone tell you differently, it is part and parcel with walking in the steps of our Lord, which we have been commanded to do. But when we are humble we begin to understand why we suffer…to make us “dissatisfied” with this life, to help us long for heaven and at the same time, to prepare us for heaven. We will suffer in this life, the Bible makes that clear. There is nowhere to run from suffering, but, “…after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
God Bless y’all today.
In His Grip,
Pastor Mike
