Clothed in Humility, Like Your Lord

There are words that keep coming up when you listen to the testimonies of persecuted Christians: humility, peace, love. Three simple words, yet fearsome to actually live out. Frantz Galland, opening up 1 Peter 5:5-11, invites you into that same ground. Humility, he says, isn't an optional extra in the Christian life: it's a priority. It marked the life of the Lord Jesus, and it must become one of the defining marks of everyone who claims his name.

Peter writes to believers whose faith is costing them dearly. They're in the furnace of persecution. He equips them, encourages them, reminds them of the privileges of God's people, then shows them that grace is enough for every one of those situations. And right at the heart of his closing exhortation, he lays down a command that applies to you too: "All of you clothe yourselves with humility, to serve one another; for 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'"

This message offers you four angles: why you should clothe yourself with humility, how to do it, what resource makes it possible, and where to start concretely.

Message outline

1. Why clothe yourself with humility?

Because it's your greatest need. Remember: it was pride that led our first parents, in the garden of Eden, to believe they could set themselves free from God's command and eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. By believing Satan's lie instead of the truth, sin; that is, life lived independently of God; invaded the whole human race like a virus, a race you're still part of today.

Peter is well placed to speak about the necessity of humility. In his presumption, he had believed himself capable of standing firm, of never denying his Master. He proclaimed it more than once, and three times he failed miserably. Peter needed to be humbled, but he also experienced restoration. Tim Keller wrote that when you lose all humility, you become disconnected from reality; the reality of your frailty, your weakness, your sinful nature. And also the reality of God's goodness, which you enjoy every day, and which even your next breath testifies to. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:7: "For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn't receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?"

Peter's text makes clear that everyone is involved, especially in the relational realm. "Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another." The immediate context concerns the elders (verses 2-4), who can only carry out their task of caring for believers willingly, with devotion, love, and selflessness, when they are submitted to God; that is, walking in humility.

An eighteenth-century English pastor was keenly aware of his need to stay humble before God. He had a reputation for gentleness and kindness. A few months before he died, a letter was found that he had written to a sister he thought he had hurt at the end of a service, by some words that had been too harsh. "My dear sister in Christ, I am sending you this note because I recognize that the way I spoke to you yesterday was entirely improper and inappropriate. On reflection, I can only condemn myself for having said such things, which I deeply regret. If only I had the gentleness and kindness of Jesus. As soon as possible, I will come and see you to ask your forgiveness in person. Signed, your unworthy pastor, Abraham." If every leader in our churches carried that kind of attitude, the witness of our congregations would surely look very different.

2. How do you clothe yourself with humility?

The passage points to an unexpected test of the authenticity of your humility. Look at verse 5: "All of you clothe yourselves with humility, to serve one another; for 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'" That little "for" matters: it explains the tight connection between how you relate to others and how God treats you; either resisting you, or giving you grace.

The Greek verb translated "clothe yourselves" refers to a servant tying on an apron to wait tables. It's a deliberate, willing act. It brings to mind John 13, where the Lord Jesus got up from the table, took off his outer garments, and wrapped a towel around himself to wash his disciples' feet. John Stott points out that none of the apostles was humble enough to even consider taking on such a menial task; but Jesus did what every one of them had inwardly refused to do. And Paul confirms in Colossians 3:12-14 that clothing yourself with humility goes hand in hand with clothing yourself with compassion, kindness, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another as Christ forgave you.

Peter continues in verse 6: "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time." That little "therefore" draws a direct line between humble relationships within the community and the command to humble yourself before God. You wouldn't necessarily expect it, but that's exactly what the apostle Peter does. In other words: if you clothe yourself with humility in your relationships with others, God counts that as humbling yourself under his mighty hand. The posture you take toward your brothers and sisters is, in the end, the very posture you take before God.

Two more examples confirm this. In the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus says: if you're bringing your offering to God and remember that your brother has something against you, go and be reconciled with him first. To be accepted by God, you must first be reconciled to your brother or sister. In Matthew 6:14-15, he adds: if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you don't forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

God places enormous weight on your attitudes and behavior toward others. And that's easy to forget when you're unhappy, when your words slip into arrogance, even contempt. You don't always say it out loud, but sometimes your heart attitude shows through so plainly that it's obvious to everyone. God won't answer your needs if you're tearing down your brothers and sisters, even just through your words or your discontent. Why? Because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Because he leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble his way (Psalm 25:8-9). A humble attitude qualifies you for the grace of God, which will show you that he truly cares for you (verse 7) whenever you ask him for help.

A few words on verse 8: "Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Withstand him steadfast in your faith." Of course, you resist the devil by being sober and watchful. Both expressions are tied to prayer; Peter mentions it in chapter 4, verse 7, and Jesus will say the same to his disciples in Matthew 26:41: "Watch and pray, that you don't enter into temptation." But within the context of our passage, you also resist the devil by adopting a posture of humility toward one another. The enemy will try to destroy your relationships, to destroy the unity of the Spirit and therefore the witness of the local church. James 4:7 speaks of submitting to God and resisting the devil so that he will flee from you. Peter shows you the means: a posture of mutual humility together with prayer. The two go together.

3. With what resource?

Three times, Peter mentions the grace of God, and that's not by accident. Verse 5: "God gives grace to the humble." Verse 10: "The God of all grace" has promised to perfect, establish, and strengthen believers. He is the God of all grace because there is a particular grace attached to every difficult situation, including your relationships.

Not long ago, Open Doors shared a moving video. Women who had suffered violence are welcomed into post-trauma centers. There, they're helped to speak aloud what they've been through; which is already the beginning of freedom. They then write down on paper what happened to them, choose to forgive their attacker, and lay their papers at the foot of a cross placed in the middle of the room. The papers are then burned, and you see them dancing around the cross. In that moment, they experience genuine freedom. What happened? The grace of God passed through that room. There's no other way to explain it.

The grace believers are bound to is the true grace, and there is no other. It's this very grace that you're called to clothe yourself with humility toward others by. Humanly speaking, you're not capable of it. With the grace of God, it's possible. All things are possible for the one who believes.

4. Where do you start?

The first thing is to look. It's Scripture that first reveals to you the humbling of the Son of God, starting with the incarnation. Then, all through his life, you see Jesus choosing, again and again, the path of humility. He submits to John's baptism. He spends time with outcasts and the marginalized. He welcomes women of questionable reputation. He puts special emphasis on humility; think of the Sermon on the Mount, the good Samaritan, the tax collector beating his chest. He describes himself as gentle and humble in heart. He stays silent before Pilate instead of defending himself. He becomes obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross, giving up the countless angels who stood ready to rescue him if he had only asked. And all of this, so that by his poverty you might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).

It's by looking at all of this, Paul says, that you're continually being transformed into his likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18). Even when that process happens through pain. Think again of Peter. When Jesus was arrested and led away, his eyes met Peter's, right after Peter had just denied him. In that moment, the lowliness and humility of Jesus shatter Peter's arrogance. He grasps the road of humiliation his Master is walking, and his tears show a veil lifting from his pride, which he's now ashamed of. This is the gospel bearing witness that you're a far greater sinner than you think, but that you're also the beneficiary of a far greater rescue than you dare believe.

Looking, yes; but not only that. Making choices: working out your salvation. First, choosing to receive your life as a gift, but also receiving your life together with others as a gift. Belonging to a gathering of believers is a genuine gift. Community life is a gift.

Four areas for making deliberate choices toward humility.

Living with accountability. Are you willing to be deliberately accountable to someone? Or would you rather quietly go about your own business without anyone stepping in? If we're together as a church, it's so there can be a real, mutual accountability. Scripture doesn't ask you to police one another, but to watch over one another, because you're called to love.

Not judging others harshly. When the Lord Jesus was confronted with the woman caught in adultery, he alone was qualified to throw the first stone. He didn't. "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more." Because he is gentle and humble in heart. That doesn't mean there's no place for discipline in the local church. But in the great drama of humanity, in which you're both spectator and actor, you need to humbly recognize that you often don't have all the facts needed to judge rightly. Romans 14:10 reminds you: "But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ."

Recognizing the wound in your own heart. Often you can spot the wound in someone else's heart, but not so easily your own; not your own problem. Solomon speaks of this in 1 Kings 8:38-39, and even makes it a condition for being forgiven and heard. Over decades of walking with the Lord, this makes you more and more sensitive to your own sin, especially in your thoughts. The deceitful and desperately sick heart that Jeremiah 17:9 speaks of is a reality that touches you too. You truly need the grace of God, again and again.

Asking for forgiveness. If you're married, when did you last ask your spouse for forgiveness? Married or not, opportunities for misunderstanding and friction between brothers and sisters are countless. What will you choose when someone comes to speak with you specifically about your attitude or your words? Will you rush to justify yourself, push back, insist you disagree? Or will you simply say thank you, and turn it into a matter of prayer?

A missionary to India once said: "If I had to choose just two phrases indispensable to spiritual growth, I would choose these: 'I don't know' and 'I'm sorry.'" The reason you need to clothe yourself with humility is that pride is a major obstacle to God's work in you, and humility remains the royal road to receiving his grace.

Why does God give grace to the humble? Why is he the God of all grace? Because the Lord Jesus humbled himself for you under the mighty hand of God, so that you might be exalted in due time (verse 6). Because the Lord Jesus, though he withstood the devil steadfast in faith (verse 9), was treated as the proudest of the proud; since it was on him that the immense pride of all humanity, yours included, was concentrated, as he became sin for you. Because it is finished, because the punishment that brings you peace fell on him, and the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:5-6).

What you could never do for yourself; being as humble as you should be toward your Creator and toward others; God has done and accomplished for you, and credited to your account. The key to letting go of your pride, or of whatever you think others owe you, is to look again at Jesus, who paid the full weight of your own debt. Clothing yourself with humility, like the Lord you serve, will simply be your response to what you've seen and understood of the gospel.

Key takeaways

• Humility isn't optional. It marked the life of the Lord Jesus, and it must become a defining mark of everyone who claims his name.
• Your relationships are a test. The posture you take toward your brothers and sisters is the posture you take before God. God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.
• Resisting the devil runs through mutual humility. The enemy will try to destroy your relationships in order to destroy the church's witness. Sobriety, watchfulness, and prayer go hand in hand with a posture of humility toward one another.
• Without grace, it's impossible. Humanly speaking, you can't clothe yourself with humility. It's God's grace that produces it in you.
• Look, then choose. Look to Jesus, the humbled one par excellence, then make concrete decisions: accountability, refusing to judge harshly, owning your own sin, asking for forgiveness.

Personal application

1. Who are you genuinely accountable to right now? Who have you given permission to correct you when something's off in your life or your words?
2. Is there a brother or sister you're judging harshly right now? Do you really have all the facts you need to make that judgment?
3. Before God, are you willing to name the wound in your own heart, rather than the other person's? What comes up when you take that time?
4. When did you last ask forgiveness; from your spouse, or from a brother or sister in Christ? Is there a step you've been putting off for too long?
5. When someone comes to talk to you about your attitude or your words, what's your first reaction: to justify yourself, or to say thank you and turn it into a matter of prayer?

Verses cited

• 1 Peter 5:5-11 · main text
• Matthew 18:3 · becoming like little children
• John 13 · Jesus washes his disciples' feet
• 1 Corinthians 4:7 · what do you have that you didn't receive?
• Colossians 3:12-14 · clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, gentleness, patience
• Psalm 25:8-9 · he leads the humble in what is right
• Matthew 5:23-24 · go be reconciled with your brother first
• Matthew 6:14-15 · forgiveness received, forgiveness given
• Matthew 26:41 · watch and pray
• James 4:7 · submit to God, resist the devil
• Romans 14:10 · why do you judge your brother?
• 1 Kings 8:38-39 · knowing the wound of one's own heart
• Jeremiah 17:9 · the heart is deceitful
• 2 Corinthians 8:9 · by his poverty we are made rich
• 2 Corinthians 3:18 · transformed by beholding
• Isaiah 53:5-6 · the punishment that brings us peace

Further reading

• Welcoming New Participants in a Small Group
• How to Lead a Bible Discussion
• Church Small Groups: How to Create and Grow Them

FAQ

Isn't Christian humility just putting yourself down?

No. Biblical humility isn't false modesty or self-deprecation: it's recognizing reality. The reality of your frailty and sinful nature, but also the reality of God's goodness, which sustains you every single day. As 1 Corinthians 4:7 reminds you, everything you have, you received. Humility simply reconnects you to who you really are before God and before others.

Why does Peter link humility toward one another with humbling yourself before God?

Because God doesn't separate the two. That little "therefore" in verse 6 bridges your relationships with one another and your posture before God. How you treat your brothers and sisters reveals your real posture before God. Jesus makes this clear in Matthew 5 and 6: there's no vertical reconciliation without horizontal reconciliation. So God takes your attitudes toward others very seriously, including when they show up as harsh words or simmering discontent.

How can I tell whether I'm actually growing in humility?

Four concrete markers come out of this message. You're willing to be accountable to someone who can correct you. You don't judge your brother or sister harshly when you don't have all the facts. You own the wound in your own heart before pointing to the other person's. And when someone comes to talk to you about a wrong, you don't rush to justify yourself: you say thank you and turn it into a matter of prayer. None of these choices happen on their own: they're the fruit of the grace of God that you're bound to.