1 Peter 5:5-7 (NKJV) ⁵ Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

“God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble.”

⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

In this final chapter of this epistle, as a part of his final exhortation, Peter’s directive to submit was first pointed in the direction of the younger folks toward  “your elders”…yes, the old folks, but that call to submit was quickly pointed toward us all…the church…and to be done in…

Yes, here comes that word again… “humility”.  I guess our vulnerability to that old sin of pride must really be near the top of the list of what gets in the way of our ability to persevere in prayer through this life…personally and as His church…by the Grace of God.

Speaking of humility, I must say, that working in the areas affected by the floods the past couple of weeks has been most humbling, for me.  Just as the sight of the all property damage was daunting, even more so was some of the emotional and spiritual pain…and at the same time, a never more beautiful picture of the verse from Proverbs that Peter quoted…“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

The out pouring of hope and love to those in need…I’ve never seen the like of.  Volunteers from all over not only Central Texas, but from all across our nation.  People giving their time, their resources and the sweat of their brow…sometimes for those they know…but most of the time, for a complete stranger….being the hands and feet of Jesus.

I think the most encouraging and unbelievable things to me, was the persevering attitude of a lot of the flood victims and their receptiveness to prayer…but the biggest surprise, was the focus of some of their prayers.  Here you have someone who’s suffered through a loss…in some cases, most everything they had in their home…yet, their prayers didn’t stay focused on themselves…they turned toward “ the others” around them who suffered losses…and for those who lost loved ones…prayers of humility…turned into prayers of thankfulness.

Yes, it is true…” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

May we all be every so humble…in Christ!

jwb