“Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 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.” 1 Peter 5:5-7
It is very possible that when Peter wrote about the need to be clothed with humility and the reality of being cared for by God that he had in his mind the night that Jesus washed his feet, as recorded in John 13. What an impression the humility of Jesus must have made on Peter, for he saw humility incarnate firsthand.
Humility is a key ingredient in Christian fellowship because it has nothing to hide and nothing to prove. Humility is the grace of God flowing through my life as the Lord enables me to minister to others. It is the ability to say, ‘There go I, but for the grace of God.’
It was the humble, broken publican whose prayer was answered. That is why Peter could give exhortation to the humble soul to “(cast) all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” Humility is that quality of child-like trust in the Father heart of God.
One of the things that God has shown us is the need to walk humbly with Him. To walk in humility requires both submission and obedience to our Lord. As Peter put it, humility is a key to an effective prayer life.
Humble me, Lord Jesus, for Your glory!
