"HUMBLE YOURSELVES!"

1 Peter 5:6-7                           (ESV)

"6 "HUMBLE YOURSELVES", therefore, under the mighty hand of GOD so that at the proper time HE may exalt you,

7 casting all your anxieties on HIM, because HE cares for you." 

There is something to be said for being able to "HUMBLE YOURSELVES" and NOT being humbled by the LORD!  Granted, HIS grace and mercy causes us to submit to HIS Plan for our lives, but I have been subjected to HIS discipline and it is not pleasant, to say the least.  

GOD is love, and HE sometimes has to expose us to what we think nobody should be exposed to in order to grow us into tools that can be used for HIS Glory.  HIS love for us far exceeds anything we have knowledge of, and we may not be able to fathom how deeply HE will pursue us to develop us into what HE needs us to be.  Have you ever read about Job in the Old Testament?  He experienced tremendous grief and hardship only to eventually be restored beyond his expectations.  

We don't deserve anything beyond total rejection from a HOLY GOD.  Yet, we think we are due royal treatment, even though we are only "saved by grace"!  When everything "good" we have done is placed before the throne of GOD, the only thing we will have to offer is to "HUMBLE YOURSELVES", as we are only tools used by HIM!  Think about it???