Clothes to Wear Today

What should I wear today? It’s the worst on Sunday. I want to look respectable but not ridiculous, and sometimes there’s a fine line between the two (I like to accessorize to a fault). But that’s just the outside. How to clothe myself on the inside is not such a mystery because the Bible is clear about those clothes, and some of them I’m wearing automatically. I’m clothed with salvation and righteousness, and I’m to accessorize with the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. (Let’s see, where did I leave that?)

But now, as we near the end of 1 Peter, where the theme is “Be ye holy for I am holy,” I get another piece of clothing to wear. And it’s a piece Jesus wore. Here’s a key to 1 Peter. Nearly all the instructions given in this book are natural expectations with Jesus as the model.

1Pe 5:5-9  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.  (6)  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:	I’m to be clothed with humility, and if I do, God will give me grace and exalt me in due time. Today, I need to strip off pride and wanting to be right and respected. Rather, surrender my self-will and let God do what God will do. Look how Jesus modeled this whole concept of humbling himself with the result of being exalted. Php 2:8-9  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  (9)  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: It’s a cause and effect that is as sure as Jesus.
(7)  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.	If I don’t stand up for myself, won’t I be walked on? The advice is to cast my cares on him. And wouldn’t you know, that’s what Jesus did when he was submitting himself unto death: 1Pe 2:23  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: He cast himself on God.
(8)  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  (9)  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.	The opposite of humility is pride. Pride is a more natural way to conduct myself, but it is not godly. It is satanly. Isn’t Satan the model of pride? He wants me to walk in pride, standing up for myself. That alone should be a good enough reason to do the opposite and walk in humility. Remember that Jesus stood up to Satan’s temptations of pride in Matt. 4. Rather than give in to Satan’s prideful suggestions, Jesus referred back to what the Bible says. That’s how I clothe myself with humility. I defer to what God says, not what I feel or want.