1 Peter 5:1-7 Amplified Bible
Serve God Willingly
5 Therefore, I strongly urge the elders among you [pastors, spiritual leaders of the church], as a fellow elder and as an eyewitness [called to testify] of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory that is to be revealed: 2 shepherd and guide and protect the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not [motivated] for shameful gain, but with wholehearted enthusiasm; 3 not lording it over those assigned to your care [do not be arrogant or overbearing], but be examples [of Christian living] to the flock [set a pattern of integrity for your congregation]. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd (Christ) appears, you will receive the [conqueror’s] unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you younger men [of lesser rank and experience], be subject to your elders [seek their counsel]; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another [tie on the servant’s apron], for God is opposed to the proud [the disdainful, the presumptuous, and He defeats them], but He gives grace to the humble.
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time, 7 casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
As Peter gives final instructions at the close of his letter, he addresses both old and young, leaders and followers, shepherds and sheep. Leaders should lead out of generosity and not for gain, he warns, because the flock belongs to God.
What does it mean to humble myself under the mighty hand of God?
In other words, don’t try to deal with your feelings and fears from your limited human perspective; surrender them to the Power of God within you.
Don’t brood and dwell on perceived wrongs that are being done to you, because that kind of negative thought energy can pull us back into fear-base
Followers should follow with a teachable spirit. All should wear humility visibly, as if it were clothing. Humility should be like a uniform that God’s people wear.
Humility starts with an acknowledgment of our complete dependence on God.
When the Heidelberg Catechism asks, “What is your only comfort in life and in death?” the answer shows our dependence:
“I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.” We rely completely on Jesus for our salvation and our very existence. What a relief that it does not depend on our own strength!
That humility should shape how we treat one another. We all belong to God, so we have neither an authority of our own nor a right to profit from other people.
That same ancient catechism draws out the implications of our dependence: “Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.”
What does 1 Peter 5 5 teach us?
All of us must live in humility toward each other and toward God, who opposes the proud.
the Bible, those who do not know Christ are called “workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23). Unbelievers are marked by lawlessness (Matthew 23:28), and will increase in the end times (Matthew 24:12). Lawlessness was associated with those who broke the Law of Moses (the Torah) and were therefore sinners.
How do I humble myself biblically?
- Thank God often and always. Thankfulness stops pride growing. …
- Confess your sins regularly. Confession is a reality check as it reminds us who we are. …
- Be ready to accept humiliations. …
- Don’t worry about status. …
- Have a sense of humour. …
- Listen to others. …
- Ask questions. …
- Consider others before yourself.
May we in humility serve God by serving one another!
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God, the Holy Spirit,
Praying …
Psalm 25 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Psalm 25
Dependence on the Lord
Davidic.
1 Lord,[a] I turn to You.[b]
2 My God, I trust in You.
Do not let me be disgraced;
do not let my enemies gloat over me.
3 No one who waits for You
will be disgraced;
those who act treacherously without cause
will be disgraced.
4 Make Your ways known to me, Lord;
teach me Your paths.
5 Guide me in Your truth and teach me,
for You are the God of my salvation;
I wait for You all day long.
6 Remember, Lord, Your compassion
and Your faithful love,
for they have existed from antiquity.[c]
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth
or my acts of rebellion;
in keeping with Your faithful love, remember me
because of Your goodness, Lord.
8 The Lord is good and upright;
therefore He shows sinners the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right
and teaches them His way.
10 All the Lord’s ways show faithful love and truth
to those who keep His covenant and decrees.
11 Because of Your name, Yahweh,
forgive my sin, for it is great.
12 Who is the man who fears the Lord?
He will show him the way he should choose.
13 He will live a good life,
and his descendants will inherit the land.[d]
14 The secret counsel of the Lord
is for those who fear Him,
and He reveals His covenant to them.
15 My eyes are always on the Lord,
for He will pull my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am alone and afflicted.
17 The distresses of my heart increase;[e]
bring me out of my sufferings.
18 Consider my affliction and trouble,
and take away all my sins.
19 Consider my enemies; they are numerous,
and they hate me violently.
20 Guard me and deliver me;
do not let me be put to shame,
for I take refuge in You.
21 May integrity and what is right
watch over me,
for I wait for You.
22 God, redeem Israel, from all its distresses.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 