1 Peter 5:6 AMPC
[6] Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you,
The work of humbling myself is first mine to do, and not that of God. If God were to do it, it may end up in shame or eternal death. There is another reason why the work of humbling myself is also first mine to do, and it has to do with the fact that I have been given a part of God when he breathed into me the breath of life, and I became a living soul. I have been given a mind that can choose actions as well as reactions, and I an not a robot, simply having to respond to commands, with no mind of my own, or power and responsibility over my actions. God is too awesome a God to create anything He cannot control or command, yet His power is tempered by my own personal decisions. He wants me to love Him with ALL my heart, not a part of it. He wants me to give Him ALL of me, not the parts that are convenient or comfortable for me to let go.
The message above is clearly directed to people who understand who God is, what His expectations are, and have submitted to the authority of God over their lives. The verses before today's extract makes reference to the 'elders (pastors and spiritual guides of the church)', as well as those who are 'younger and of lesser rank' in the church. The body of Christ will have structures for coordination, organization and accountability, but let it not be that position becomes the determinant of importance and relevance. The church will be organised along reporting lines so that we all can be ultimately accountable to the Chief Shepherd of the church. When He returns, He is not coming back for titles, position or status, but for people who have surrendered their lives to Him. May it not be that we focus on the things that are quite minor, whilst missing out on the things with eternal value.
God is the One who determines times and seasons for everyone of us. He sets up one person and brings down another. He has established the winter and summer seasons, yet He suspended the sun from going down for a whole day, allowed a donkey to speak to a man, and even took at least 2 men away to heaven without allowing them experience physical death first, all because they walked in total submission to Him. He took a man like Joseph from the pit, Potiphar's house and prison, all the way to the palace of Egypt. The process took time but the vessel was totally surrendered to God. That is the deep lesson for all who want to see God work that which is His perfect will in their lives. Trust His timing and His dealings; when it is time for Him to exalt you, no force on earth can stop Him. If He chooses to demote you, all the forces of the world cannot help you. You are better off in God's hands. God's time of favour is here
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