Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
April 19, 2024
1 Peter 5:1-10
1 Therefore, I have a request for the elders among you. (I ask this as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and as one who shares in the glory that is about to be revealed.) I urge the elders: 2 Like shepherds, tend the flock of God among you. Watch over it. Don’t shepherd because you must, but do it voluntarily for God. Don’t shepherd greedily, but do it eagerly. 3 Don’t shepherd by ruling over those entrusted to your care, but become examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive an unfading crown of glory. 5 In the same way, I urge you who are younger: accept the authority of the elders. And everyone, clothe yourselves with humility toward each other. God stands against the proud, but he gives favor to the humble. 6 Therefore, humble yourselves under God’s power so that he may raise you up in the last day. 7 Throw all your anxiety onto him, because he cares about you. 8 Be clearheaded. Keep alert. Your accuser, the devil, is on the prowl like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith. Do so in the knowledge that your fellow believers are enduring the same suffering throughout the world. 10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, the one who called you into his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will himself restore, empower, strengthen, and establish you.
Good Morning! We are called to be humble!
Remember when your parent, mentor, or boss “told” you to do something that you didn’t want to do? Maybe it was as simple as cleaning your room and completing a job that you agreed to do. How did you respond? Did you immediately jump up and happily complete the task? Probably not. If you are like me, you ignored the request or begrudgingly did it while grumbling all the while.
Now what about when they asked you to come and do something you liked? i.e. Come, and try these cookies. We probably couldn’t get there fast enough. This is human nature: we eagerly do the fun things while we put off doing the things we don’t like.
Let’s consider Jesus’ earthly walk. Do you suppose he liked wandering around without a place to call his own? If he had come and presented himself to the Pharisees and leaders, they would have given him 4-star accommodations and listened attentively to his every word. After all, he was the Son of God. But that was not what Jesus came to do. Each day, he walked among the needy, the sick, and the outcast.
He spent endless energy teaching and healing. He was often weary and hungry. He had moments of anger when he saw great hypocrisy such as turning the temple into a marketplace. He came and taught us humility and love. He did all of this and more knowing that he would be rejected and killed for his love. We are called to humble ourselves and serve the least of God’s children with grace and mercy.
Gracious God, Thank you for this beautiful gift of life. We are quick to give up when things aren’t as we want them to be. Help us learn and grow in the spirit. We thank you! In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God leads us through every circumstance to help us reach our calling.
Oh Lord, Forgive our sinful ways. Pastor Liz