1 Peter 5:5 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 the humble.”
As we look around today, we see a lot of rebellion, disobedience, and a lack of submission. There is a great lack of respect for authority and for those who are older than we are. We see the young and the old at odds. The young mock the old and the old refuse to show respect to the young. The young use the indiscretions and poor choices of the elder, “back in the day”, as an excuse to do whatever they want today, because after all, “You all did it too!” Such a sad state that we are in, and I am only talking about the church here. What is truly sad is that what was once unacceptable in the unsaved world, when it comes to relationships, is now acceptable amongst Christians. As the world begins to accept more and more of society’s debauchery, we (the church) begin to compromise and accept more also. We excuse it by comparing the level of evil we are accepting with the current level of evil in the world, and proclaim that we are still okay because we are not as bad as the world. Peter gets right to the heart of the matter when it comes to unity and respect in the church. He makes it clear that we are to have a humble attitude toward one another, and submit to one another. The younger people are supposed to submit themselves to the elders, not as a dictatorship, or as if the elders always have the answers; because, after all, we are all flawed and imperfect. However, that does not excuse the elders from the responsibility we have to be a good example to the younger people. In chapter two of this Book, Peter reminded us, in verse 17, that we are supposed to “Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Honor the king.” He did not say pick and choose who we will honor, and honor only those who are ruling in a way that pleases us. This kind of attitude requires much humility; more than we are often capable of on our own. For this reason we must allow Christ to work in us and through us by His Holy Spirit. Romans 12:10 reminds us, “Be tender loving one to another, with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another.” Philippians 2:3 goes on to say, “Let nothing be done through strife and vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.” The greatest reason we should have for practicing humility is that when we choose pride, we choose to stand against God Himself. The word “resists” that Peter uses means “to range in battle against” and “to oppose one’s self”. When we refuse to humbly submit to one another, we choose to stand against God and work against ourselves. Let us stop behaving like the world, and let us start modeling the behavior of the One who gave His life for us; for the furtherance of the Gospel, and the honor of the One we are supposed to represent both in the church building and out amongst the unsaved.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).
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