1 Peter 5:10-11 – Grace

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  (11) To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.”

If you will remember back to the introduction to 1 Peter, it was only 3 years ago; surely you recall every word...  Peter wrote this letter as the church was beginning to face persecution.  He knew that dark days were coming and wrote to encourage and prepare the church to endure the persecution in God’s grace.

 As I read the passage above, I am struck by the contrast that Peter draws between God and suffering.  Look at the phrases he uses:

-          God of all grace

-          Who called you

-          Eternal glory in Christ

-          Will restore you

-          Make you strong

-          Make you firm

-          Make you steadfast

That is an encouraging list!  Now compare that to his discussion of persecution:

-          Suffered a little while

If you are cynical, you might be tempted to think that Peter oversells God (if that were possible) and undersells the persecution that is coming.  “Suffered a little while” sounds like a trip to the dentist or a sprained ankle.  “This isn’t going to hurt at all; it’ll be over before you know it!”  But there is one little fact that argues against that point: Peter knew exactly what was coming. 

Peter was not blind to the Christians being beheaded and burned alive, wrapped in animal skins and thrown to wild dogs and other animals, and used as human torches as a source of light in the evenings.  Peter himself was crucified upside down after watching his wife get executed.  He was not naïve about the level of persecution that was coming. 

Peter knew the horrific suffering that was coming…but he also knew God.  And to Peter, the grace of God was so amazingly powerful that it made even the most terrible suffering seem like “suffering for a little while”.  The grace of Jesus was so real to Peter that it didn’t really matter what happens on earth because we are safely in the arms of Christ. 

It reminds me of a story about an old seminary professor who was terminally ill, but continued teaching.  One of his students asked him if he was afraid of dying.  The old professor paused a moment and said something to the effect of, “God has given me the grace to live every day…I expect He’ll give me the grace to die on my dying day.”

Whether it is a living day, or a dying day – God will give you the grace to face it.  You cannot lose when you are on God’s side.  Live confidently knowing that God walks with us.  To Him be the power and glory forever!