“…all of you, CLOTHE yourselves with HUMILITY toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”-{1 Peter 5:5-7}.
The phrase, ‘clothe yourselves” is a Greek term that was used to tie something on yourself with a knot or a bow. It came to speak of a work apron. A slave would put one on to keep his or her clothes clean. The word became the equivalent for humble service.
It was also used of a white scarf or an apron of slaves which was fastened to the belt of the vest of slaves and distinguished them from people who were freemen. They were distinguishable, identified, and known and so the followers of Christ, should be increasingly be distinguishable from those without Christ. How? “CLOTHE yourselves with humility towards one another.” Known Identifiable by HUMILITY towards one another…to Stand out…. we are slaves, servants of Jesus Christ!
The word for “Humility” is the word “lowly-mindedness.”. It’s an attitude adopted that you submit to humbly serve others, you are not so great, above others, that you can’t or are excused from serving others. Humility attacks self-love which manifests itself in the promotion of self to be served first and not others, the selfishness that we all exude but for the grace of God continually changing us from the inside out as those whom He has saved, rescued, delivered, and is at work in us by His Spirit to make us like Christ in His character.
In the Pagan world of Peter’s day, humility was looked down upon and they were considered as those who were weak and cowards. It was not considered a virtue to be desired. Peter tells the Believers they must take on the attitude of humility expressed in humbly serving one another. They were as it were to put on the Apron of the slave. Knowing your task and being identifiable by all who would observe your life. Aah, that is a slave of Christ!
Humility is an INTERNAL Attitude Expressed in LOVING SERVICE THROUGH DENYING SELF AND PREFERRING…OTHERS!
Identifiable not by their profession but by their Practice- Humbly serving others for Jesus sake!
Paul in Phil 2:3-5 gives a great view of what it means to be humble and it begins in the MIND… renewing our mind…doing nothing out of selfishness or vain conceit but considering others AS MORE IMPORTANT than yourself, and not merely looking out for your own interest but also looking out for the interest of others! It is PREFERING OTHERS… FOR Jesus sake!-{Read Phil 2:3-5; 2 Cor 4:5}
Jesus in John 13:4-5 stooped to wash the feet of the disciples, knowing they would deny Him, yet He the LORD, Maker of Heaven and earth stoops to wash the feet of the disciples and demonstrates there is no one who is beneath your loving service. Jesus shows us what humility looks like and how it serves. A choice to deny Himself- He should have been worshipped, yet He laid aside that right and chose to prefer others, for the glory of His Father.
“The term Peter uses here denotes the action of tying a garment around yourself. We might think of Jesus’ action in John 13:4:after laying aside His outer garment he tied a towel around His waist. With that action He presented Himself as a slave. Such outward clothing gave expression to His inner garment of humility as Jesus began to wash His disciples’ feet.”-{voxviva app}
The greatest in God’s kingdom is the SERVANT! “But the greatest of you shall be your servant.”-{Matthew 23:11}
“Humility is an essential attitude which is necessary for us to carry out effective service for Christ.” -{Wayne Barber}
It is a verb, “Clothe yourselves” is a pattern of life, AN ATTITUDE we are to continually Adopt. A new habit for those who are “New Creations in Christ.” We have new power, new perspective, new attitudes, new behavior! Jesus modeled this in John 13… as He lovingly stooped to serve others, and we are to do likewise. It speaks of living to do the will of another. Practically it means you and I live no longer to do our will but His will, His plans, His way, for His sake! We put on the attitude of the servant of Christ, and EXPRESS it one choice at a time, one person at a time, serving them.