Toward scorners Yahweh is scornful, but to the humble he gives grace. … Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (Proverbs 3:34; 1 Peter 5:5).
Peter not only knew the Scripture he had been taught, he also learned from the example Jesus set. Then he put one in the context of the other to encourage us to enjoy serving one another. When Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, he administered grace and assailed pride, demonstrating that he was both Lord and Teacher. Jesus rejoiced in knowing that the Father had supplied him with all that he needed to succeed in his ministry and that he was returning to him. Because of this joy, he served his disciples so they would rejoice in the prospect of God’s provision for their ministry also. Initially, proud Peter refused because he did not yet understand how grace worked. So he scorned Jesus’ grace. Fortunately for us, Jesus explained that if Peter refused to humbly receive this grace, he would cut himself off from any future expressions of Jesus’ joy in the Father’s provision. Peter immediately grasped the implications. So he energetically humbled himself so he could enter into Jesus’ joy. And not too much later, after Jesus had returned to the Father and sent the Spirit, Peter humbled himself in service to the lame man at the temple’s entrance, “I don’t have silver or gold. But what I do have, I’ll gladly give you, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, stand up and walk!’”
Lord Jesus, make me like Peter, humble enough to accept your gifts of service to me and humble enough to double my joy in service to others.
Promises for the Battle 
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