1 Peter 5:6-7
If you humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, in his good time he will lift you up. Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 (TLB)
Be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 (MSG)
The word “humble” is related to “humus” which means “earthy”, or “down to earth.” That means, not proud, but having a consciousness of one’s shortcomings, and seeing oneself realistically, neither too high nor too low.
Somewhere along the way, most of us learned that the “sin” of Adam and Eve was not just disobeying God but also wanting to “be like God, knowing good from evil.”
The opposite of humble (humus) is “hubris” or thinking too highly of oneself.
How easy it is for us to get caught up in either thinking we are “better than” (almost like God?)…. or we are “less than” (someone else?) …. And neither is the way God wants us to think. When we think too low about ourselves, we are just as wrong as when we think too highly of ourselves. It is a delicate balance for our egos to maintain, isn’t it?
We – you and I - are “Children of God” (and everyone else) and that should be the one thing we claim at all times in every relationship and in every circumstance.
The primary message of the Gospel – the whole of the biblical witness – is to TRUST in God. God created and declared creation “good” and then accompanied all of creation on her journey to life in the millenniums to come. God – Emmanuel is with us in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, who lives within us to guide, bless, strengthen, and in every way care for us (you and me). Isn’t it wonderful that we can “live carefree before God”?
Questions for Reflection:
- Is it easier for you to think highly of yourself or to think of yourself with low esteem – “I can’t” or “I’m not”?
- When do you have the hardest time trusting in God in your circumstances that everything will unfold as it is meant to?
- When have you experienced “living carefree”?
Prayer:
Our Gracious and Trustworthy God,
Through your Spirit keep us close to you as we try in our fumbling ways to walk with you and to trust in you and in the life you have given to us. We make choices along the way, some are right, some not so much, but we have been assured that every detail of our lives of love for You is worked into something good.
(Romans 8:28) Thank you for Your Presence, Your Light, Your Power, Your Compassion…..Your Life in and through us. In Jesus’ name
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