"At the Proper Time, He May Exalt You" (What JOY Awaits!)

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Even if you feel weak and unworthy, God still has a special serving…just for you!

            1 Peter 5:6 tells us to:

^6 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,”
 
Three things leap out at me as I read that verse:

1.      Humble yourselves… God wants us to know how much He loves us and how valuable we are as children of God, but often we become prideful and that’s what He is warning against here. We don’t need to be concerned with recognition for our “good deeds” or worry about being successful by the world’s standards.  God’s praise is the only thing that really matters and when we humble ourselves before Him, it pleases Him.

2.      The next thing in that verse that caught my attention was the phrase “the mighty hand of God”.  God’s hand holds power.  He is in control…even when it seems our world is spinning out of control.  When our faith is in Him, we have the security of knowing that He is protecting us with His mighty hand.

3.      And the verse ends with: “at the proper time, he may exalt you”.  Most of us enjoy accolades and awards for doing well.  But how much sweeter will the joy be when it is GOD exalting us…in the proper time.  

My Bible footnote explains this verse beautifully: "Humbly obey God regardless of your present circumstances, and in his good time—either in this life or in the next—he will lift you up."

            Let’s be concerned not with worldly rewards and trophies but look forward to being exalted by the mighty hand of God. What JOY awaits!