…Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility [as the garb of a servant, so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance] toward one another. For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)—[and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble.
I remember complimenting a friend on doing a fine job of grilling for a dinner party. He was a very godly man and immediately responded that it was not him but the Lord. In my opinion, it would have been much better if he had said, "Thank you for the compliment," and in his own prayer time thanked God for helping him. When someone compliments us, we should graciously receive it. Take each compliment that you receive as a rose, and at the end of the day take the entire bouquet and offer it back to God, knowing that it came from Him.
If I were to paraphrase 1 Peter 5:5, it would say, "All of you should put on humility. Wear it as a garment and never let it be stripped from you. Live with freedom from pride and arrogance toward one another, because God sets Himself against the proud and haughty (the presumptuous and boastful), and He opposes and even frustrates and defeats them, but He helps the humble."
Prayer of the Day: Lord, I clothe myself in humility and ask You to strip away any arrogance or pride from my life. Help me to live in freedom, amen.
