SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23
Scripture: 1 Peter 5:5-9

1 Peter 5:5-9 says, “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. 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. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” We are told to humble ourselves under the mighty Hand of God and He will lift us up and honor us at the right time. As we do that we are also to give all of our anxieties and worries to Him knowing and fully aware that He cares for us. We are to stay alert and be vigilant in our walk knowing that our adversary is on the prowl. Resisting him and staying steadfast in the faith is crucial. The mighty Hand of God is the dominion Hand of God. Krat-eh-o is the word and it is the same word that is used for retaining sin. Once again we have a passage that shows us where the dominion is. The dominion is in the ability to either forgive or retain sin. If we have the humility to submit to God, if we have the humility to turn, if we have the humility to repent, then we can see God change not only us but others! This is how we move in judgment in the last days. We bring the mighty Hand of God on those who refuse to turn, on those who refuse to repent. That is what God says to do. That is how He designed this truth to work.