We Are Family!!

In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. 

And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, 

because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

~ 1 Peter 5:5 

 

 

It's time for a little history lesson....go ahead and roll your eyes, yawn, stretch, and get your coffee...way back when I was a child, I remember my Mom getting ready for church and after she was dressed in her "Sunday go to meeting" attire, she would put on an apron and prepare lunch, which would cook while we were gone so it would be ready to eat when we got home.  What was the purpose of the apron? To keep her clothes clean.

 

In the old days, before color photography, tradesmen would wear aprons, overalls, and even coveralls when they were working (this was way back when even the garbage collectors wore ties). Why? So they wouldn't get their clothes dirty.  But it was also one way of marking the blue collar worker from the white collar worker.

 

Now...When Peter tells us to "clothe yourselves with humility toward one another" he is using the language that indicates putting on an apron (in Peter's day, slaves word aprons and it distinguished them from former slaves, called freedmen).  What Peter is telling us is to not be afraid or hesitant to understand that we are no better than anyone else!  Peter, a fisherman by trade, was very familiar with the idea that there are some who believe they are better than everyone else...the "don't you know who I am?" club.

 

It's taken quite a few lumps, bumps and bruises, but I have learned that I am not better than anyone else by any stretch of the imagination.  I, like everyone else, must take in nourishment, expel waste, and breathe.  In its basest form, those are the functions of existing.  Therefore, unless I can figure out how to exist without having to go through those processes, I actually might be better than others.

 

Here's the fact: God created us (ALL OF US) in His image! If you remember the story of the Last Supper, Jesus removed His clothing, wrapped a towel around Himself, and washed the feet of His Disciples!  If Jesus could humble Himself in such a way, why is it so difficult for us?