Clothe Yourselves With Humility

"Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." (1 Peter 5:5)

Humility is a Christian virtue that still keeps one clean. Doubtless, the picture indelibly impressed in Peter's mind is of Jesus, clothed with a towel as a slave, washing the feet of His disciples.

Peter is writing with such pathos (passion). The kind of submission to another which is demanded is that of profound humility taken to oneself like a garment. Peter draws a picture of putting on humility as though it were an apron; this calls for: yielding and surrendering. John 13:3-5, "Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things unto His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

about security that leads to humility:

Best Illustration: The humility of which Peter speaks is like that of the tax collector; it is not simply a winsome graciousness, it is the humility of repentance, of despairing self-distrust that turns to God in saving faith. Luke 18:9-14,

"Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself. 'God, I thank You that I am not like other

men-extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' 'I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.'

Hudson Taylor was founder of the China Inland Mission. On one occasion someone said to

him, "You must sometimes be tempted, Mr. Taylor, to be proud because of the wonderful way God has used you. I doubt if any man living has had greater honor." To this gracious word, Mr. Taylor replied, "On the contrary, I often think that God must have been looking for someone small enough and weak enough for Him to use, and then He found me. "Humility is not to be put on as a matter of outward show; it is rather to be worn as the garment of the spirit, as a characteristic attitude that expresses itself in practical action toward others.One last thought on humility. It is not only used as the garment of a slave, it is also used of putting on a long, stoke-like garment, which was the sign of honor and pre-eminence. To complete the picture we must put both images together. Jesus once put on the slave's apron and undertook the humblest of all duties, washing His disciples' feet, but that very apron of humility will become the garment of honor for us, for it is he who is the servant of all
who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 20:25-28)

"I believe the first test of a truly great man is him humility." (John Ruskin)