Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Pet 5:5)
I’m wearing a polo shirt and jeans today. But am I fully clothed? Are you? Not if we have yet to “clothe ourselves” with humility. What a vivid God-breathed phrase! What does it look like, practically speaking, to “clothe myself” with humility? Consider the input of Ephesians 4:1-3:
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Colossians 3:12-15 provides even more detail:
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
I chose to put on a polo shirt and jeans this morning. But did I deliberately make the choice to clothe myself with, to “put on” humility? Listen to those verses from the New Testament. Our Creator has framed humility as the first layer, the “undergarment” that should envelop our hearts from the beginning of every single God-given day. “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility.” What difference will that make? What impact will it have?
The heart clothed with humility is equipped to treat others with gentleness, patience, and forbearance.
The heart draped in humility is prepared to react with compassion, kindness, and meekness.
The heart wrapped with humility can forgive as a channel of the forgiveness extended by Jesus.
The heart bundled in humility is at peace and full of gratitude.
The heart bound up with humility is fertile soil for the seeds of sacrificial love.
“Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another.” Without it, I’m not adequately, fully clothed and that’s a big deal because God opposes the proud. But listen to the last phrase in 1 Peter 5:5. The God of all grace gives grace to the humble. Clothing ourselves with humility is the gateway to grace.
So are you adequately, fully clothed today?