Fw: humility

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Rob Smith <toanosmith@yahoo.com>
To: Rob Smith <rsmith@mycwa.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2017 7:29 AM
Subject: humility

1 Peter 5:^6 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you"

The root of "humble" comes from "humus" or the soil of the earth.  The word picture is of maintaining a posture that bows as low as one can go.  Peter has just been exhorting the leaders of churches to serve their flocks and not domineer them.  He has just told them to wear humility like clothing in their attitudes toward each other.  He explains that "pride" is the problem and humility is the solution.  And he goes on to remind them that just as humility is the key to effective relationships with each other on the human level so it is the key to blessing for each of us before God.  He explains that God "opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5).  As we model humility in our human relationships we are prepared to bow before the Lord in humility as well.  And this is the ultimate attitude. Note the promise in verse above ("...that at the proper time he may exalt you").  Pride is our attempt to lift ourselves up...Humility is our willingness to allow God to lift us.

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blessings,

Rob Smith