Clothe yourself in humility

"In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'" 1 Peter 5:5 NLT

On January 17, KXLY News out of Spokane published a story with the headline, "Naked runner spotted in Minnehaha Park area, detectives investigating." The writer went on to explain. If you’ve seen a nude runner around Spokane, the Sheriff’s Office wants to talk to you. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office is investigating reports of a naked man seen jogging in the Minnehaha Park-Beacon Hill area on a handful of occasions. A woman reported she first saw him running early in the morning last summer. She said she saw him clothed on multiple occasions but then started to see him run completely naked. He did wear running shoes and would often have a medium-sized dog with him.The woman told police she saw the naked runner again this December. She was running while wearing a headlamp and again saw him running with his dog. This time, he was completely naked except for his shoes, arm sleeves and a headlamp, even though it was 35 degrees outside. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the woman ran past the man several times, but became concerned when she noticed his actions became more sexual in nature. Obviously this story is troubling in many ways. Not only because the naked runner is a threat to others but a threat to himself. At 35 degrees, this naked runner who was described as tall with brown hair and an athletic build, needs to be clothed.

And you know, when it comes to the need for clothing, the Bible is clear that you and I should dress ourselves "in humility" as we "relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'" Peter, who knew the dangers of pride firsthand, was telling both the young and the old to be humble towards one another, saying that young men "must accept the authority of the elders" and older men must lead by example so that they might learn from and serve one another. The same is true for us ladies as well. By clothing ourselves "in humility," we can avoid the threat of pride that causes the younger generation to resist the teachings of the older generation and the older to assume they can learn nothing from the younger. Makes sense right?

So let us clothe ourselves in humility each and every day that we might not only receive the grace God promises to all who do, but so we can grow in love, wisdom, and knowledge. There really is so much we can learn from one another. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that pride always leads to destruction. Help us to recognize the many ways our arrogance and haughtiness is keeping us from being a good example and from learning new things. Create in us Lord a desire to see ourselves as You do that we might stay humble and able to serve others in the ways we were called to. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!!!