The God of all grace
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 5:10-11).
Peter’s heart was full of worship as he drew his first letter to a close. Like Paul, he could trace the wonder of God’s grace in his life and gave God the beautiful title of “the God of all grace”. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 8:9 how we know that grace: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” We are given life by God’s grace, and we are sustained in that life by the same grace. The flow of grace comes from the God of all grace, through the Saviour who manifested it and the Holy Spirit who ministers it. It is known and enjoyed now and will bring every one of us into His eternal presence, because, in grace, God has “called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus.” Peter encourages his readers by assuring them that their present sufferings were temporary and would be used by God to “perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (1 Peter 5:10).
I remember being a cub scout when I was very young. We used to get ‘badges’ for doing different tasks. One of the few I can remember was being given a pot of soil and told there was a bulb buried inside. My job was to water it each day or so and leave in a darkened room. Every day before school, I would go and take a look at how my bulb was doing. Every day, all I could see was soil! Then one day the tip of the plant appeared through the surface. I can remember the pleasure I felt as, over the following days, my plant sprang into life. Some suffering is clear to everyone, and those who care for us can respond with compassion. But often, suffering isn’t always seen. Like my plant, it takes place in isolation. I couldn’t see the struggle taking place beneath the soil. I could only see the results of life when the plant emerged from its dark home. But the God of all grace is not like other gardeners; He can see what’s beneath the soil! His presence can be known in the darkness we endure. He completes the work of grace in our hearts. Plants are hardened off in pots, to be taken out and established and strengthened in a garden. Peter was fulfilling the ministry the Lord had given him: “But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32, NIV).
Peter encouraged his readers, and he encourages us, to patiently go through the trials of life knowing the presence of the God of all grace. God would lead them to into a settled, peaceful place of maturity and fruitfulness. As we pass through trials and difficulties, we naturally tend to focus on what is happening to us. But perhaps we should pause and think of the pleasure and joy God has in seeing His life and the effects of His grace in His children.
God takes us through these spiritual experiences to develop us into the people He wants us to be. He places us in circumstances which are intended to increase our faith in Him and our confidence in His grace. The local expression of His Church is the place where we are established and put down roots. It is also the place where we are spiritually fed through the ministry of God’s word and where we pray and enjoy fellowship. We are settled so that we can grow, mature and bear fruit, more fruit and much fruit (see John 15:2,8). Peter had walked this path with the God of all grace. It had shaped him into the peaceful, gentle, humble shepherd he had become. As he considers the grace of God in the lives of His people, his heart overflows in worship: “To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:11). So should ours!
