Grace Descends

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"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but shows favor [grace] to the humble and oppressed.' " —1 Peter 5:5

Bible Reading

1 PETER 5:1-5

Devotional

Grace, like water, runs to low places. The deeper you bow, the more you receive. But for those who live in high places, it's hard to get.

Throughout the Bible we read that God scatters the arrogant and sends the rich away but fills the hungry and exalts the lowly. The prayer of the humble one is the only window through which the grace of God can shine.

However, we must practice humility not only before God but also toward one another. "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another."

Humility is not a gesture that we make now and then. It is a garment in which we are clothed for the duration of our pilgrimage.

In this respect the Christian community presents the greatest possible contrast with worldly society. Christians don't climb over each other; they bow down to each other. They don't envy each other; they rejoice with each other.

And those Christians who have been appointed as shepherds over God's flock should remind each other not to behave like successful executives in a worldly business. Together they are little shepherds or pastors who are awaiting the return of the chief Shepherd, to whom the flock belongs. When he comes, they will get their promotion—no sooner.

The chief Shepherd himself lived and died in service. He humbled himself to the depths of our shame. And only after he had finished it all was he crowned with glory. The people of God must live and work on earth in the shadow of his cross until the day of coronation.

It is Christ's custom to lift only those who are low and to give crowns only to those who have been bearing a cross. Therefore we must remain uncrowned in this life. And we must live in places low enough for grace to reach us.

REFLECTIONS

"Christians don't climb over each other; they bow down to each other." How do you (could you) "bow" to other Christians?

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Humility and Grace go hand in hand. As we have been studying, God requires a humble and contrite spirit. When we think ourselves too proud, we forget what we truly are, and thats wretched sinners deserving of death for eternity. But Grace. When we receive grace through faith, we are given the most important and most valuable thing we will ever have, Salvation. So why is it that we so often want more fame, more "stuff", more recognition for our good deeds? We are encouraged by Paul in Philippians 4:10-13, to be content in all situations. It is something that is learned over time and to learn something like that, it takes a lot of humility. Its a discipline and its something that we need to remember in our day to day lives.

We are no better than any other person and we should be seeking to look more and more like Christ. Christ humbled Himself, the greatest form of humility, in order to pay retribution on the behalf of His elect. So we ought to remember to be humble in our lives, towards those around us, toward our fellow brothers and sisters. For example, I show grace to fellow believers by not biting their heads off when they do something to make me angry. I also know that I need to show grace to those who do NOT show me grace. I need to remember to be humble and to care for those around me, as God cares about them. Our lives should be aimed to reflect the love and humility of Jesus Christ and it should aim to bring glory and praise to His name. We do that by being humble, by showing grace, by being imitators and doers of the word. Grace&Peace to you.