Anxiety - Pt 2

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:6-11 ESV).

Yesterday I began our study of our reading with some facts about the porcupine. I know it was a little obtuse to go from there to humility, but that’s what the apostle does in his letter. Humility is the key to strength. It is at the heart of conquering our anxieties. While there are many predators who would love to make the porcupine and easy meal, that rarely ends well. Their safety is not rooted in their aggressive personality. In fact, despite their prickly reputation, porcupines are actually very mellow animals. Though they're feared for their sharp quills, they only use them in self-defense. The rest of the time, they're solitary, tree-dwelling vegetarians. Notice this in the flow of thought from the earlier verses: Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you. (1 Peter 5:5-7 ESV). The chapter starts with a word to the elders of the church to shepherd the flock willingly and eagerly and without being motivated by money. Then the focus turns to the others in the church. It is here that the connection between this call for humility and the command to cast all your anxiety on God exists. The command for humility seems to cause anxiety to rise and so Peter deals with it. I will deal with this connection more tomorrow. I’m going to wade out into a little deeper water here. So, first a disclaimer: this is not an endorsement nor condemnation of any political party or platform. I find it a distraction and subtle lie that believers have become the tools for any politician’s goals. This is not to say that we cannot, or should not personally support or vote for those men and women who best represent our values. However, much of what I have seen over the last decade has been more of a personal attack directed toward the candidate rather than a declaration of the truth we stand for. Even when Jesus delivers his scathing rebuke of the Scribes and Pharisees (cf. Matthew 23) he does so with tears of compassion (cf. Matthew 23:37). Even though we have the Lion of Judah walking before us, we should be cautious in our behavior. Humility in the power of the Gospel is our greatest weapon! I think I like the porcupine more and more as I discover the truth in this creation of God.