SCRIPTURE | 1 Peter 1:24–25 “For, “ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.” And this is the word which was proclaimed to you as good news.”
OBSERVATION | First, the purpose of 1 Peter 1:24-25 is to teach us to have an exalted view of the Holy Scriptures. Look at how scripture is exalted here. The “Word of God” is the “incorruptible” means of our new birth (v.23). This awesome and holy Word “endures forever.” (v.24) Every Sunday men ought to marvel at the power and greatness of the Word as it is faithfully taught. Sadly, in it’s place today many enjoy well-crafted and persuasive words of mere men from the pulpits. How vain are the so-called preachers and proclaimers of the Word who exalt humanity by giving people what they want to hear instead of allowing God to speak what He wants to say. How they humiliate God by not faithfully explaining and apply His Word, and exalt man instead. In exalting scripture, these verses teach that scripture ought to be one of the greatest desires of the true believer. Both the preachers and all who hear them need to grow to have a higher view of Holy Scripture, instead of themselves.
Second, the brevity of and humility of man is taught in our passage. Notice what it is taught for though. Our brevity is in view in order to increase our view of Scripture “BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.” One is humiliated. The other exalted. If we exalt man, God and His Word are wrongly humbled. If we do as our verse does and exalt the Word of God, man is rightly humbled. Humans need to lower their view of self in order to see how high of a view scripture deserves.
Here, we are compared to grass by the one who created us. Sadly, modern Church methodology has exalted man, his desires and felt needs instead. Attempting to work within the wisdom of man through psychology and philosophy, they have only exalted man. The ego of men is puffed up and the consciences of men are eased. Both ought to be humbled before God, in the realization of how insignificant and temporary we are. Not one human is great, we are “all… like grass.” That is to say, even the greatest man who lives, even his “glory” which is all that makes him great and exalted, even all of that will “fall off” like a flower past it’s glory begins to fall and fade. The most exalted human will “wither” and fade away in death.
Oh that the humility of man and the greatness of God’s Word were rightly and regularly taught today. The difference it would make in how we live would be unmistakable, because men wouldn’t be so caught up in themselves and would instead turn to the Word of God more and more and grow in the love of God more and more. And the result would be bringing God glory more and more.
Third, we learn to proclaim God’s Word, as “good news” in view of our lowly humility and scriptures exaltation. As we have seen before “good news” can also be translated as “gospel” here refers to all of scripture. It is the word euangelizō. It’s a combination of the word for angel, which can also mean messenger, and good. It’s the work of every believer. To speak God’s good message ..
APPLICATION | What is the greatness of my life, if I am like grass? Exalt the Word by trusting in it and obeying it, all of it. This is what it means to exalt the Word by living and therefore glorifying the One who speaks through it. Humble yourself. Kill your ego. End your temporary personal glory. Make much of the Word of the Lord which “endures forever.”
PRAYER | Father, I confess I have fallen and stumbled into the modern way of exalting humanity and self. Work in me a right view of how great Your Word is. That I might believe it more and live it out accordingly. For you and your glory alone. Amen.
