About the Elders
Open Your Bible
1 Peter 5:1-7, Proverbs 3:27-35, 1 Timothy 3:1-13
BY Guest Writer
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.
36 thoughts on "About the Elders"
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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.
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Same here, sister! Praying with you and for you!
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“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.-
☺️❤️
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“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.
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Amen. Thank you, Churchmouse.
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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!
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So good
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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 ❤️
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Rejected?! Count it joy! You are unblemished and have been set apart from the herd.
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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!!
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Agreed – loved seeing their faces ❤️
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Yes!! I miss the videos.
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