"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."
"Humble yourselves
therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
"Casting all your care
upon him; for he careth for you.
"Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom
he may devour:
"Whom resist stedfast
in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your
brethren that are in the world.
"But the God of all
grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye
have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle
you." (1 Peter 5: 5-10)
What is the important of "humility" when it comes to God exalting us? Peter explains in the verse five -- God gives grace to the humble.
What does it mean to humble ourselves? Peter explains it perfectly
"Casting all your care upon him"
Why do we cast all -- not some, not most, but all? Because He cares for us.
God wants us to trust Him, and let Him "worry". If we are living in fear, holding on to all our cares, then we are sending the loudest message of unbelief, presuming that God does not care, or that we can care for ourselves better than He.
"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
"For he that is
entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did
from his.
"Let us labour
therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of
unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 9-11)
We are called to "labor" or rather:"make haste" make it a priority that we rest in His Work, for in Christ everything has been taken care of (John 17: 4)
and
"For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my
wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from
the foundation of the world." (Hebrews 4: 3)
What are we supposed to "do" then as we are "laboring to enter this rest"? Paul explains in Romans:
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive [lit. are receiving]
abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one,
Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)
Keep receiving the gifts of righteousness and grace. Now, if we are still holding onto our cares, then we cannot receive His grace and righteousness!
Cast every care on Him, and receive His gifts to reign in life over all your problems.
With the growing revelation of God's Word, His Son, and His Love, sometimes I find that I have to enhance what He has taught me.
ReplyDeleteGod's grace is at all times poured out to us through the Holy Spirit. As we grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord, we find ourselves able to cast more of our cares to Him!
God's grace is frustrated by our insistent self-efforts (Galatians 5: 4), but it cannot be stopped! The more we see Him and all the Good that He is for us (Psalm 91: 14-16), then we humble ourselves, and His grace flows all the more in our lives!