THE PATH TO MORE GRACE
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.
Grace has been defined as unmerited favor. God's favor and acceptance of us that we did not earn or deserve. But grace is more than that. Grace is also God's power towards us. Remember, it is by grace that we are saved. The Lord spoke to Paul that God's grace was sufficient to get Paul through difficulties. Grace is a big word and a big theme of the New Testament. It was Jesus who made God's grace available to us. But grace in our lives is not limited to salvation. After we have received salvation by grace, we still need God's grace in all areas of our lives. We need God's power and provision towards us. In fact, I can not think of a single area where I don't need more of God's grace. Grace to be a better servant, husband, father, and pastor. I need grace to lead and grace to fulfill what God has called me to do. And I am positive I am not alone. If more grace is available, all of us who love the Lord should be lining up to receive. So how do we get more grace in our lives?
The answer is simple; the application is more involved. According to the verses we read today, God does give more grace. But there is a condition. More grace is available, but it's available to the humble. Okay, let's move past the 'humble' or 'umble' pronunciation. I am going to go with humble. Humility involves submission. Submission to God and submission to one another. Peter said that we are to be clothed with humility, and he was referencing our relationships with our family in Christ. This does not mean we have to do everything someone wants us to do. This means our attitude is not all about us. We are aware of others and their needs, and we are not pushing our own agenda. I find it extremely interesting that Peter, quoting Proverbs 3:34, says God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble, and uses that truth in the context of all of us showing humility to each other.
We usually don't argue with submitting to God and showing humility towards Him. But we are to be accommodating and not pushy towards one another and clothed with humility. Clothed with humility indicates more than a passing thought. Humility is to be in every fabric of our lives.
So we humble ourselves under God's mighty hand. We do this, God is not going to humble us. He will resist us if we are proud and set ourselves on going our own way, regardless if it pleases God or not. But if we will submit to God and His will, then the promise is that He will exalt us in due time. We humble ourselves before Him, and He exalts. Humility is a great advantage and the best pathway to more grace.
Oh, and one more thing that totally aligns with humility. We are to cast all our care on Him because He cares for us. Humility is required to cast our cares and concerns on the Lord. Pride says, I've got this. Humility says, I will not carry these burdens, I will give them to the Lord, because I believe He cares for me. Humility is going God's way above our own way. And humility is the pathway to more grace.
PRAYER
Thank You, Lord, that I can humble myself under Your mighty hand. Thank you for exalting me over and above what I could ever do on my own. I humbly cast my cares on You.