Praise Him with a Humble Heart
Does God Oppose You? – Part 1

Scripture Reading:  1 Peter 5:1-7

Key Verse: 1 Peter 5:5

Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

None of us would want to be the person who God actually opposes.  We speak often of God’s great love and mercy.  It brings comfort to us to think of God’s grace and forgiveness.  It is a rare person who truly does not care what God thinks of them.  It is one thing to think that God is disappointed with us but a whole different thing to know God actually opposes us.

The Apostle Peter quoted Proverbs 3:34 when he wrote that God opposes the proud.  When a person allows the pride of life to guide them, they are going to experience what it means to have God working against them.  God is not acting outside of love, but rather acting in love as He works to humble the proud.  God wishes all people to be saved.  God never intends for anyone to end up in hell.  God, without destroying our free moral choices, works against the proud in order to convince them of their need of Him!

God knows better than us how destructive pride is.  He understands that the proud try to do life without divine help.  God knows that someone filled with pride treats others as second class citizens.  God watches the proud live like they are better than others.  God works against that spirit of pride in order to redeem the person.  (Continued)

Father, I give you permission to point out any signs of pride in me.  I want your full blessing operating in my life.  In Jesus’ name, amen.