1-28-2025 Devotion

 1 Peter 5:5 says: "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." Today we focus on being clothed with humility. The word "clothed" means "to gather or tie in a knot, hence to fasten a garment." We can get the idea that humility is something that needs to be attached to us. Just like a shirt will not jump out of your closet onto your body; neither will humility just happen. As you choose what to wear everyday, you choose to fasten some humility to yourself. 

 

The Albert Barnes NT Commentary explains the humility of the early Christians: "They were to be willing to take any place, and to perform any office, however humble, in order to serve and benefit others. They were not to assume a style and dignity of state and authority, as if they would lord it over others, or as if they were better than others; but they were to be willing to occupy any station, however humble, by which they might honour God. It is known that not a few of the early Christians actually sold themselves as slaves, in order that they might preach the gospel to those who were in bondage. The sense here is, they were to put on humility as a garment bound fast to them, as a servant bound fast to him the apron that was significant of his station." Please notice the underlined portion above. That is commitment; that is humility. Is there any wonder with that type of humility the early church was successful in taking the Gospel message around the world?

 

Now today, we don't have that type of slavery; but we do have many opportunities to serve others in a fashion that would demonstrate humility. Just like clothes are observable to the eye, so is humility. Look for opportunities to clothe yourself in humility like the early Christians. People will notice eventually and that will give you a chance to tell them of the transforming power of Jesus Christ (notice you will tell them after you have shown them). Telling the Gospel after you have shown the Gospel is always easier and also the method generally chosen by Jesus.