For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
1 Pet. 5
What direction does Peter give the elders? The younger? All of you? Pride versus humility is a constant theme throughout the entire Bible. I think at its heart this is nothing more than a decision as to whom you will serve. Humility equates to willing service of God. Pride insists on serving self. And of course we know the outcome of each. Serve God and live or serve self and die. Thus, there is life in humility while pride leads to death.
Concurrent with this is that humbly serving God is not just limited to how we interact with God. Because God commands us to also love others, we cannot love Him without doing that also. This is especially true when dealing with other believers. Though we are to treat our enemies with love, there should be a deeper connection within the family of God. Thus, no matter what our position in life, we are to love God and love others by setting aside our service to self – our pride.
Peter hit the heart of the matter in his instructions to elders. He then told the younger, “In the same way…submit yourselves to your elders.” (1 Pet. 5:5a). What did he mean by “In the same way”? “…not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve” (1 Pet:5:2b). That is how we “clothe [ourselves] with humility toward one another” (1 Pet. 5:a).
Is. 25-26
God gave us the law. The law brought God’s judgment on us because we could not keep it. If God knew we could not keep the law, why did He give it to us? Isaiah has answers. “When Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. But when grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness” (Is. 26:9b-10a). How could we know our need for Jesus is we were not aware of our own failure?
Isaiah describes the light bulb moment when we open our eyes to our failure and turn to God. “We were with child, we writhed in labor, but we gave birth to wind. We have not brought salvation to the earth, and the people of the world have not come to life.” (Is. 26:18). I have never noticed before, but this is a very graphic statement of how our efforts in the law do not lead to righteousness. Neither our labor nor the law we labor in have any power to give life.
This is why God’s grace came after judgment. This is why He made two covenants. The first appeals to our human nature because it relies on self. We needed to know the result was wind. The second covenant relies on God alone. It is a covenant of grace through Jesus Christ. We struggle with that because we cannot enter into that covenant without dropping our pride. I suppose that is easier for us to do when we realize that our efforts cannot give life. As for God’s efforts, “Your dead will live, LORD; their bodies will rise – let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy” (Is. 26:19a).
Ps. 108
David begins this psalm with four “I will” statements. What are they? Then he gives the reason; what is it? Do you ever stop to consider – to really dwell on – the greatness of God? It’s mind blowing! David says God’s love is, “higher than the heavens” and His faithfulness, “reaches to the skies.” (Ps. 108:4). Look up on a cloudless day and see the vastness of the sky. Look up on a starry night and contemplate the scope of the universe. Then consider that one single aspect of God is so much more than all of that. Mind blowing. No wonder David’s soul awakened the dawn to sing God’s praise to the world!