Load Line January 23, 2014 Read: 1 Peter 5:5-9 Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. —1 Peter 5:6-7 In the 19th century, ships were often recklessly overloaded, resulting in those ships going down and the crews being lost at sea. In 1875, to remedy this negligent practice, British politician Samuel Plimsoll led the charge for legislation to create a line on the side of a ship to show if it was carrying too much cargo. That “load line” became known as the Plimsoll Line, and it continues to mark the hulls of ships today. Sometimes, like those ships, our lives can seem overloaded with fears, struggles, and heartaches. We can even feel that we are in danger of going under. In those times, however, it is reassuring to remember that we have a remarkable resource. We have a heavenly Father who stands ready to help us carry that load. The apostle Peter said, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7). He is capable of handling the cares that overwhelm us. Though the testings of life may feel like a burden too heavy to bear, we can have full assurance that our heavenly Father loves us deeply and knows our load limits. Whatever we face, He will help us to bear it. Heavenly Father, I sometimes feel as if I can’t go on. I am tired, I am weak, and I am worn. Thank You that You know my limits better than I do. And that, in Your strength, I can find the enablement to endure. God may lead us into troubled waters to deepen our trust in Him. Insight Peter wrote from his own experience when he warned that “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (v.5). When foretold that he would deny Jesus (Matt. 26:34; Luke 22:31-34), Peter boasted that he would never betray Him (Matt. 26:35). In his pride, Peter underestimated the severity of his trial and overestimated his ability to deal with the pressure (vv.69-75). Thirty years later, he exhorted his readers to be humble (1 Peter 5:5). Because God resists the proud (v.5), Scripture repeatedly warns of the danger of pride (Prov. 11:2; 29:23; Isa. 2:11-12; Obad. 1:3-4; James 4:6-7).
Posted on: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 14:00:34 +0000
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