I’m a girl very much in love with creature comforts like yoga pants, guacamole, and on-demand TV. I’d rather not be uncomfortable, much less suffer. I mean, I’m not alone in this, right? While we may not suffer isolation or oppression like the readers of Peter’s letter, we all have places of hardship and difficulty.
Yes, despite my affection for stretchy pants and binge-worthy programming, life for me has sticky places. Places that reveal my selfish heart and prickly pride. I have relationships that are tense and less than loving. There are situations that bring me a ton of stress and, to a mild degree, “suffering.” But tucked here in 1 Peter 5 is a tiny, often overlooked admonition that might help soften the blow of those situations.
Peter is encouraging church leaders, called elders, to shepherd and serve the people of God well. Why would Peter interrupt his commentary on suffering and Christian living in an ungodly culture to talk to church leadership? It seems Peter knew that their wise counsel and tender care would be critical in helping God’s people persevere.
But I wonder if Peter was also speaking to this group of men because he knew they would experience their own unique brand of suffering because of their call to shepherd God’s flock? Are we surprised? Living in relationship with Christ-followers is hard and messy because living in any relationship is hard and messy. We sometimes glamorize or expect more from our brothers and sisters in Christ, but friend, though Jesus is King of my heart, I can still be super selfish, prideful, and easily frustrated. How about you?
I don’t want to cause anyone undue suffering, especially not someone who is sacrificially serving the body of Christ. Our leaders are called, and I think equipped, to demonstrate grace and humility toward the people of God. But look at what Peter says to you and me: “All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another” (1 Peter 5:5). We can all partner together to make the work of living together as Christ-followers a bit easier by putting on humility.
When we choose to believe the best about the girl whose short reply kind of hurt our feelings, we put on humility. When we extend grace to the friend who blew us off (again), we put on humility. When we focus on our leaders’ strengths rather than berating them for their weaknesses, we put on humility. When we gladly serve, even as others do less than their fair share, we put on humility.
This call rings loudly within the context of Christian community, but think about the places in your life where you are currently suffering. Could Peter’s charge to be clothed with humility let you stretch in grace, persevere in patience, or extend forgiveness? Perhaps none of our hard places will feel as comfortable as our yoga pants, but might humility be the thing that makes us more comfortable in those less than comfortable circumstances?
Whitney Capps is a national speaker for Proverbs 31 Ministries. Her first book, Sick of Me (B&H Publishers) and bible study, We Over Me (LifeWay) both release in March 2019. Whitney is the founder of Simple Seminary, a place for the everyday gal to learn theology. She and her husband, Chad, are raising their four boys just outside Atlanta, Ga. You can connect with her at whitneycapps.com or on Instagram, @whitneycapps.
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36 thoughts on "About the Elders"
This just hits so close to home. I just loved the devotional!
This is ringing in my ears today. In the middle of a trying few weeks, I am losing grace and patience with people all around me. My lack of humility recently has been affecting all sorts of different areas in my life and I am thankful for this reminder today.
Blessings, sisters!
God knew I needed to wait to read this! I tried to start it on Saturday but didn’t get a chance and then yesterday I didn’t extend grace. I was prideful, and harsh towards my husband. May I have the humility today to be Christ-like towards him and seek forgiveness.
1 Peter 5:1–7
ABOUT THE ELDERS
5 I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witnessj to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed:k 2 Shepherd God’s flock among you,l not overseeingE out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you;F not out of greed for money but eagerly; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherdm appears, you will receive the unfading crownn of glory. 5 In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves withG humility toward one another, because
God resists the proud
but gives grace to the humble.H,o
CONCLUSION
6 Humblep yourselves, therefore, under the mighty handq of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.r
This was so apt for my circumstances. What a timely reminder. God’s word never returns void.
Dawn- wow what you wrote is almost exactly how I felt yesterday! Thank you for this reminder that I don’t really DESERVE anything!! I must be humble and quit the pity party!
❤️
I pray that I would not be quick to jump to conclusions about how someone feels about me, if they let me down. I pray that I would learn to extend grace to people when they let me down.
Amen
A reason this is so hard for me is that the world teaches us and wants us to be strong, prideful, and unrelenting in our ways. Lord help me to dismiss this workday notion and serve ALL people with your humility and grace.
“Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another” (1 Peter 5:5). How different would my relationships be if humility governed my conversations and interactions! If I thought of others as better than myself in all I said and did! Oh Father, give me grace to do just this.
Ah! I just want to see if anyone feels the same as I do here. But I feel like the last couple posts have severely watered dow the kind of suffering Peter was talking about. As much as these things mentioned are, at times, suffering I fear we are missing the point of what these believers truly had to endure. It can send the message that suffering is as palatable as a simple surrender of simple comforts. Which is true in a sense but really not at all what Peter is saying here.
The suffering he is talking about is that of Christ. It’s suffering for the sake of his name. Jail time, ridicule, unfairness. I think as women of Christ we need to be prepared for this kind of suffering. And we need to be prepared to encourage those along side us who are also suffering ad God’s shepherds.
I’m new here but the readings today sure do apply here in my little community. There are some who have done some pretty nasty public things to myself and a few others thinking that they are on the moral high ground for doing what they do and have done but they aren’t. The group of us keep forging ahead with our lives and haven’t and will not retaliate….”humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God…..” myself, I’ve forgiven one person over and over again (I have to drive by this persons house leaving and coming home). It doesn’t mean the hurt necessarily goes away immediately but in my heart I have forgiven and continue to do so and will probably forgive over and over again until I finally get to move away from here. God put us in this neighborhood for a reason 13 years ago. It’s never been 100% clear as to why but we’re here until we finally sell so I’ll continue to forgive and live my life according Tobago’s will.
I am too guilty of pride. God resists the proud. I’m guilty of being easily offended, and become defensive and will say things about that person out loud or to others. That is so wrong. I really need to consider others, and put on humility. I said things today that I shouldn’t have. My teenage daughter asked me a few days ago, why I get so easily offended. Wow! I need to pray and seek Him. It’s time for change that He can accomplish. I’m very sorry as reflect on this!
Oh my, this hits the spot! There is so much encouragement and conviction in this devotional. It seems that pride is the root cause of many of my flaws. A good dose of humility will help me be both a good follower and a good leader. It will also help me handle tough situations with grace. Thank you SRT for today’s devotional, and sisters for sharing your thoughts!
Praying for you, & your mum. Your loyalty & commitment over such a long period demonstrates Gods love. Bless you xxx
Oh I love this, how applicable. And a nice big glass of conviction.
Yesterday was hard. We had an abortion determined young girl. And a friend with her doing most of the talking. I called on my prayer warriors last night— now I’m asking all of you—- Lord, soften this 19 yr old young lady’s heart. She is very hard hearted— 14 week. Showed no emotion during sonogram.
Praying praying praying!!
Praying for God to soften not only her heart, but also those she confides in.
So needed this today, I’ve been carrying some deep hurt towards some friends who have been absent when I’ve needed them but am really asking God to help me extend grace.
Same here, sister! Praying with you and for you!
“All of you…clothe yourself in humility toward one another.”
Lord, please forgive me of my prideful self. I pray that today I will–
“Stretch in grace, preserve in patience, and extend forgiveness.”
May others see You in me today. Amen.
☺️❤️
“Friendly fire” his hard. I have sat through two church splits (due to pastoral moral failings) and when the same church was headed for yet a third split, we left. Sisters, those church splits were not only ugly, they were incredibly disheartening and terribly sad. How had leadership failed so badly and how did the church divide and take sides so quickly? Shepherds were awol and the sheep wandered aimlessly. It was awful. My fervent prayer during that time was simply that I would remember that it was humans who were failing, not God. I prayed that no one would stay or walk away with less faith. I remember standing in a meeting imploring folks to pray more than they were gossiping about the situation. The power struggles that surfaced were worldly, not Godly. Our family left. The drama of a third ‘coup’ was more than we could stomach. Particular church members wanted things done their way and bullying was their weapon of choice. Satan was having a field day. BUT GOD! The gates of hell did not prevail and that church is a solid one in our community now. A new shepherd/pastor and a turnover in the congregation (many of the malcontents died or moved on) resulted in a vibrant revitalization. I have spent time in their midst and they are warm and loving. They love the Word. They are kind. How could this transformation happen over a mere ten years? There was a remnant of prayer warriors who humbly took over in their prayer closets. They fought the battle there, interceding and petitioning God to move mightily in restoring HIS church there. He did. Let us pray fervently for faithful God-fearing leadership and that we would be humble and faithful followers of JESUS. Let us pray for a hedge of protection. Let us repent and let us forgive and let us be about our Father’s business. Let the world know we are His because of our love. Amen and amen.
Amen. Thank you, Churchmouse.
This hit me right between the eyes, reminding me that it’s not about me. Yesterday was one of those days requiring grace and humility towards others. I must remember it’s about obedience to God, not about my feelings!
So good
I am thankful for God’s word! His timing is perfect. Today’s devotion has brought conviction and an urge to beg for forgiveness. Yesterday all I did was complain about others, one in particular, and I was so wrong. Thank you father for the Holy Spirit that he reveals when we are wrong and exposes truth when we need. God’s mercies are new everyday ❤️
I read the title of today’s lesson, “About the Elders,” and thought, “that’s me.”
My second thought was, “how did I get here so quickly?”
Then I read the verses and thought, “always a work in progress,
help me be usable for your service, Lord.”
I have been blessed with elders who have taken me under their godly wings.
Around the age 10-12, an elderly man in our church would bring me a scripture verse every Sunday.
It was before the days of typing it in your phone to find the address.
I was too young to know about a concordance.
I would spend my week, looking for the verse in scripture.
When I found it, I would tell him the address, and we would talk about what the scripture meant.
In college, the athletic secretary that I worked with
took me under her wing and taught me how to pray scripture,
she taught me about faith,
she listened and gave me time,
she laughed with and at me sometimes,
she loved me with Jesus.
As a newlywed, a husband and wife team (about my age now) taught our Sunday School class.
We, young adults, asked them everything, and they shared honestly.
At one point, my marriage was in trouble, and I was so tired I just wanted to give up…
the wife gave me godly counsel.
She encouraged me to stay.
She shared ways to lean into God for help to stay.
She promised I would not be sorry,
and, she was right.
Soon after, a women just slightly older than myself got me involved with a ladies prayer group.
She simply led
and we all learned and grew together,
closer to God.
Then as a young mom I was invited into Bible Study Fellowship,
where for 8 years my children and I, and later even my husband,
mined the Word of God.
An empty-nester now, and grandmother (or Mika, as my precious little-ones call me)
Do I take time to see the 10 year old God has put in my path?
Is that single woman searching even on my radar?
Do I reach out to the young wife or mother with the love of my Savior?
Do I offer encouragement toward the truth when they struggle?
Do I share opportunities for growth in the Word?
My call, my experiences
Your call, Your experiences
Are not be the same.
Yet, the same God lived us through
And, humbly we answer,
Thankful,
Amazed,
Dumbfounded,
that a Holy, Loving, All-powerful God
has chosen us,
LOVES us
as through Him we live
love,
and serve.
Thank you Angie! I love the fact you recalled those special people in your life that showed you Jesus as you matured into the beautiful woman of God you are today. Seeking to make a difference in spreading the salt and light to others as you shine for God.
Oh my!!! These passages on humility and the devotional are so timely. Yesterday was a hard day for me in terms of feeling accepted by others. I spent most of the day having my own little pity party!! Although I don’t think the sting will ever go away when feeling the rejection of others, remembering that God loves humility more than pride helps ease that sting a bit.
I hear ya. Rejection always hurts and it’s so hard to just look past it and focus on God’s gracious love and acceptance instead. It is d regular prayer for me, that I will find satisfaction and fulfillment in Christ alone.
Rejected?! Count it joy! You are unblemished and have been set apart from the herd.
Whitney! How awesome to see your name over here in my bedtime Bible study! I miss seeing your face Saturday mornings on the weekend teachings for First5 <3. Thank you for this much needed devotional tonight!!
Agreed – loved seeing their faces ❤️
Yes!! I miss the videos.