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- 1 Peter 5:5-6
1 Peter 5:5-6
What humility actually hinges on (it's not what you think)
Nathan Harrison
January 23rd, 2024
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
On the surface, growth in humility appears to be about doing away with pride.
It’s not.
When we aim for humility by doing away with pride, we end up resisting pride with finite human resources. We use willpower. We analyze and re-analyze how we’re doing. All this self-centeredness leads us in the direction of…pride. And it overlooks the presence of a Savior.
We must understand humility and pride are outcomes, not causes.
The deeper cause, and better starting point? God’s love for us. With our need for love satisfied, we can spend love’s resources on what the souls around us need, without loss to ourselves. This is the lighter way of humility.
Pride perceives this love to be lacking, and strives after cheap substitutes we only think we want.
Lord - Remind us again of your abundant love, that we may move around freely and lightly in the wardrobe of humility.