Humility Before Honor

"And all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5 (HCSB)

Can you recall some circumstances in which humility was difficult for you? Perhaps you are in that situation now. Maybe you have to submit to someone you do not particularly respect, put up with someone you do not particularly like or go along with something you are strongly against for personal, political or spiritual reasons? It could be God is teaching you how to humble yourself without feeling dishonored or disrespected.

Why is humility important to God? Scripture is full of statements expressing God's favor to those who are humble and His rejection of pride. Humility before honor shows up repeatedly in the pages of the Bible and in the lives of God's people. It seems that God wants us to learn certain life lessons before He places us in honorable positions of leadership in the church. In God's Kingdom, humility comes before honor because honor is based on our mutual submission to one another and our unified submission to Him. PRAYER: Father, help us to honor the people You have placed in our lives. Teach us to love them, pray for them and give them respect You want them to have. In Jesus' Name, Amen.