1 Peter 5:5-6 Serve each other in humility

1 Peter 5:5-6 (NLT) ... And all of you, serve each other in humility, for “God opposes the proud but favours the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honour.

Pride comes naturally, it’s part of our makeup but there is no room for pride when we are trying to help others grow in faith. Pride is a barrier to growth for many of us, we may succeed in concealing pride from those around us but there is no hiding from God’s searching eye. A prayer I am reluctant to pray which has a guaranteed answer is “Lord give me humility.” Why the reluctance? Because God will humble me and its usually pretty uncomfortable! The way we respond to criticism and negative feedback is usually an indication of how proud we are –I still have a long way to go! It is sometimes only through close honest relationships that our pride is exposed. This is one good reason why superficial relationships are not going to make solid, growing disciples. Let us be quick to admit our failures to those we are trying to help.