Post by lesbrewer on Jul 19, 2022 19:22:59 GMT
A Humble Snack By: Patricia Raybon
Click here for the Audio Message
Clothe yourselves with humility.
1 Peter 5:5
Today's Scripture & Insight:
1 Peter 5:1–6
The bag of crisps was small, but it taught a missionary a big lesson. One evening in the Dominican Republic, she arrived at a church meeting and opened her crisps when a woman she hardly knew reached and grabbed a few from the bag. Others helped themselves, too.
How rude, the missionary thought. Then she realised a humbling lesson. She didn’t yet understand the culture where she’d agreed to serve. Rather than emphasising individualism, she learned that life in the Dominican Republic is lived in community. Sharing one’s food and goods is how people relate to each other. Her way wasn’t better, just different. She confessed, “It was very humbling to discover these things about me.” As she began to recognise her own biases, she also learned that humbly sharing with others helped her serve them better.
Peter taught this lesson to church leaders: treat others with humility. He counselled the elders to resist “lording it over those entrusted to you” (1 Peter 5:3). And those younger? “Submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility” (v. 5). As he declared: “God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.” Therefore, “humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (v. 6). May He help us humbly live before Him and others today.
Reflect & Pray
What cultural biases do you harbour? How could you let God transform those attitudes so you humbly serve all?
Father, exchange my arrogance regarding others with Your humble love.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
As Peter prepared to close his letter to a persecuted first-century church, he turned his attention to instructions for the leaders. Calling them his fellow elders, he urged them to be “shepherds” who serve their flock not out of obligation but out of love (1 Peter 5:2). Peter had already shared in their persecution through imprisonment and beatings and would eventually lose his life in his service for Jesus. He’d also seen firsthand the servant leadership of Christ, who on the night before His crucifixion stooped to wash the feet of His disciples. Jesus is the role model Peter followed, and the apostle wanted his fellow elders and shepherds to do the same (v. 1 ). Whatever ministry God has given to us, however large or small, we can avoid the pitfalls of pride, materialism and authoritarianism if we’re motivated by a singular love for God and His people.
Tim Gustafson
1 Peter 5:1-6
King James Version
5 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Click here for the Audio Message
Clothe yourselves with humility.
1 Peter 5:5
Today's Scripture & Insight:
1 Peter 5:1–6
The bag of crisps was small, but it taught a missionary a big lesson. One evening in the Dominican Republic, she arrived at a church meeting and opened her crisps when a woman she hardly knew reached and grabbed a few from the bag. Others helped themselves, too.
How rude, the missionary thought. Then she realised a humbling lesson. She didn’t yet understand the culture where she’d agreed to serve. Rather than emphasising individualism, she learned that life in the Dominican Republic is lived in community. Sharing one’s food and goods is how people relate to each other. Her way wasn’t better, just different. She confessed, “It was very humbling to discover these things about me.” As she began to recognise her own biases, she also learned that humbly sharing with others helped her serve them better.
Peter taught this lesson to church leaders: treat others with humility. He counselled the elders to resist “lording it over those entrusted to you” (1 Peter 5:3). And those younger? “Submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility” (v. 5). As he declared: “God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.” Therefore, “humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (v. 6). May He help us humbly live before Him and others today.
Reflect & Pray
What cultural biases do you harbour? How could you let God transform those attitudes so you humbly serve all?
Father, exchange my arrogance regarding others with Your humble love.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
As Peter prepared to close his letter to a persecuted first-century church, he turned his attention to instructions for the leaders. Calling them his fellow elders, he urged them to be “shepherds” who serve their flock not out of obligation but out of love (1 Peter 5:2). Peter had already shared in their persecution through imprisonment and beatings and would eventually lose his life in his service for Jesus. He’d also seen firsthand the servant leadership of Christ, who on the night before His crucifixion stooped to wash the feet of His disciples. Jesus is the role model Peter followed, and the apostle wanted his fellow elders and shepherds to do the same (v. 1 ). Whatever ministry God has given to us, however large or small, we can avoid the pitfalls of pride, materialism and authoritarianism if we’re motivated by a singular love for God and His people.
Tim Gustafson
1 Peter 5:1-6
King James Version
5 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
