Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 1Pet 5:6
The instruction in this scripture is contained in the first two words. “Humble yourselves”. Have you ever asked someone for help with something and they said something like….”Boy do it yourself!”. Maybe your parents have told you that before too. Well, this is a little like that. In this brief instruction “Humble yourselves”, we can learn much about the kind of person that God is.
Think about school. A teacher who is trying to teach you your times-tables will only lead you so far. Eventually, he/she will give you a certain amount of problems, and tell you to “Do it yourself”. Of course, after giving you instruction. In the same way, we should see this verse. God is saying through Peter “You need to humble yourself! I can’t do it for you.”
So it is for all virtue. When Jesus died and rose again, he won us victory over sin. Before, we could choose nothing. Sin was all we could do. But now, we can choose between life and death. Jesus died so we could have that choice back, but he can never make it for us. The romanticism of conversion in our times can cause us to stray away from the essential food and substance of Christian life, which is instruction. Humility is a choice you and I make. Much like love, peace, kindness, and all other good things. They are not fluttery transformations that God just turns us into in a wave of supernatural fireworks. What God did through Jesus, was make a Way, or a Path for us to be humble, loving, etc. Then he gave instruction so that, if we desired, we could walk that Path with His power. This is the cross Jesus spoke of early on his ministry, the cross that none who hopes to know God can avoid.
Do not disregard this as a call to works with no grace, or self-righteous labor. God pleads with us through his word to “Work out” salvation and to “desire instruction and wisdom” above all things. He is ever merciful to accept those who have wandered off the Path, but the price of obedience will always remain. He will not lessen that price in the name of grace, or he would not love us.
So let’s become students, as well as sons of God. Lord thank you for making a way for us to be saved. We need your help to walk in it!. Thank you for not making it easy. Thank you for making this walk a learning experience. It has caused us to put our trust in you. Lord help us to be intentional with you as you were with us on the cross! Let us not only hear the word of God but do it. Help us to study your word and take responsibility for its translation into our everyday actions. Help us to be authentic and genuine persons of faith. Help us to not be swayed by some of the awkward and uncomfortable circumstances that arise from obeying your Word. You promised that the world would hate us because it hated you. Help us to trust your words and not lose hope. In Jesus name, we pray.