How to survive in Nero's Rome or a 21st Century Life
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7
Peter penned those words during the reign of Nero at a time when Christians were being burned as torches in the imperial palace and imprisoned simply for proclaiming Jesus as Lord. The sense of urgency in his words comes from the situation he was directly addressing but can still apply to us today. Let's look to see what Peter is calling us to do...
Humble yourselves
To start with, we must humble ourselves, or rather become compliant to God. We must admit that he is stronger, bigger, badder than we are and that we need his help. We must be willing to do what God directs us to do, regardless of our situation. God is stern but he is never pushy. He will not intervene unless we humble ourselves to his will.
Under God's mighty hand
Picture the description of God's hand-- it does not describe it as "soft" or "gentle," it says his mighty hand. Mighty conjures images of strength and power, of protection and safety. Peter also tells us to be "under" his hand. When we are under something, we can't always see what is going on and we have to trust that our protection will not fail us. This trust can be difficult since so many of us (myself included) like to be in control and "in the know." Peter instructs us to let God handle the battle, while we humbly place ourselves under his mighty hand. (In short, we have to admit we need him, and then act like it.)
That he might lift you up in due time
It is almost an oxymoron to tell someone to get under something in order to lift them up, but God is not bound by man's rules. Peter promises that if we will allow ourselves to be in God's protection, he will lift us out of our situation, in due time. This is the heart of is message. In a society where "due time" was 15 minutes ago, waiting on God's timing can be excruciating. Certainly there are times when "due time" is right now but other times it can be days, weeks, months, years, lifetimes but it will always be God's time. Peter, again reminds us that we must trust that God is in control and that he knows when the time is right and he will lift us up.
Cast all your anxiety on him
At this point you are probably asking how can I do this? How can I humbly place myself under God and trust him to lift me up when I don't know when due time is? Peter tells us! He says to cast your anxiety on him. Images of casting food to birds or fish come to mind. When we throw food to these creatures, they don't pick at it when they are ready, the devour it and gobble it as if they had never eaten before. God is the same way! He does not turn his nose up at our anxiety or wait until he is ready, he grabs them and devours them. We aren't called to share our anxieties- we are told to cast them! Throw them out! Let God gobble them up!
Because he cares for you
Y-because he likes you! Okay, that was cheesy. But really, why does God do this, because he cares for you! What he doesn't care about is what you've done or why you are coming to him but that you are coming to him! Just like any parent longs to protect their children, God longs to protect you because he loves you.
So, just like those in Nero's Rome, Peter is calling to you. He is asking if you are allowing yourself to be compliant to God? Are you letting him protect you with his mighty hand? Are you waiting for his time and not your own? Are you letting him devour your cares? Are you accepting that he loves you? If we do these things, we find protection in our time trials, whether that is a 1st century Roman prison or a 21st century life.
Lord, I humble myself before you and hide beneath your mighty hand. I trust you will deliver me in due time. I cast my anxieties on you and gratefully praise that you love me enough to take them from me. Let me be compliant and trusting that you always have my best interest at your heart because you love me! Amen
Peter penned those words during the reign of Nero at a time when Christians were being burned as torches in the imperial palace and imprisoned simply for proclaiming Jesus as Lord. The sense of urgency in his words comes from the situation he was directly addressing but can still apply to us today. Let's look to see what Peter is calling us to do...
Humble yourselves
To start with, we must humble ourselves, or rather become compliant to God. We must admit that he is stronger, bigger, badder than we are and that we need his help. We must be willing to do what God directs us to do, regardless of our situation. God is stern but he is never pushy. He will not intervene unless we humble ourselves to his will.
Under God's mighty hand
Picture the description of God's hand-- it does not describe it as "soft" or "gentle," it says his mighty hand. Mighty conjures images of strength and power, of protection and safety. Peter also tells us to be "under" his hand. When we are under something, we can't always see what is going on and we have to trust that our protection will not fail us. This trust can be difficult since so many of us (myself included) like to be in control and "in the know." Peter instructs us to let God handle the battle, while we humbly place ourselves under his mighty hand. (In short, we have to admit we need him, and then act like it.)
That he might lift you up in due time
It is almost an oxymoron to tell someone to get under something in order to lift them up, but God is not bound by man's rules. Peter promises that if we will allow ourselves to be in God's protection, he will lift us out of our situation, in due time. This is the heart of is message. In a society where "due time" was 15 minutes ago, waiting on God's timing can be excruciating. Certainly there are times when "due time" is right now but other times it can be days, weeks, months, years, lifetimes but it will always be God's time. Peter, again reminds us that we must trust that God is in control and that he knows when the time is right and he will lift us up.
Cast all your anxiety on him
At this point you are probably asking how can I do this? How can I humbly place myself under God and trust him to lift me up when I don't know when due time is? Peter tells us! He says to cast your anxiety on him. Images of casting food to birds or fish come to mind. When we throw food to these creatures, they don't pick at it when they are ready, the devour it and gobble it as if they had never eaten before. God is the same way! He does not turn his nose up at our anxiety or wait until he is ready, he grabs them and devours them. We aren't called to share our anxieties- we are told to cast them! Throw them out! Let God gobble them up!
Because he cares for you
Y-because he likes you! Okay, that was cheesy. But really, why does God do this, because he cares for you! What he doesn't care about is what you've done or why you are coming to him but that you are coming to him! Just like any parent longs to protect their children, God longs to protect you because he loves you.
So, just like those in Nero's Rome, Peter is calling to you. He is asking if you are allowing yourself to be compliant to God? Are you letting him protect you with his mighty hand? Are you waiting for his time and not your own? Are you letting him devour your cares? Are you accepting that he loves you? If we do these things, we find protection in our time trials, whether that is a 1st century Roman prison or a 21st century life.
Lord, I humble myself before you and hide beneath your mighty hand. I trust you will deliver me in due time. I cast my anxieties on you and gratefully praise that you love me enough to take them from me. Let me be compliant and trusting that you always have my best interest at your heart because you love me! Amen
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