“8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” NIV

It’s interesting that among the various words used in this verse to call believers to loving harmony, there is also mention of humility.

Humility is good soil in which so many other lovely graces will bloom. It is absolutely essential for peaceful relationships in the home, in the church…in fact anywhere! Pride is utterly destructive of human concord.

I find that when I feel hurt; when I think I’ve been badly done to or mistreated; if I take a long hard, honest look in the mirror, I usually see a lot of pride in the reflection. I think that for some reason I deserve better. Why do my thoughts travel in that direction? Because I think I’m more important than I am. What is that? Well, being quite clinical, it begins with ‘p’ and ends in ‘e’ and has ‘rid’ in the middle.

Towards the end of this letter Peter is to write:

‘’All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”[

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.’’ (5:5b,6).

Remember God’s law of gravity: What goes down must come up! (See Philippians 2:1-11).

PRAYER: Lord, you call us to, in humility, consider others better than ourselves; to look not only to own interests but also to theirs. Lord you know me better than I know myself, and you know why I say to you, I’m going to need help with this. Even as I ask for your strength, I know it is already given, and I thank you.