While sitting with a group of believers, someone starts playing a worship song on the piano or guitar. They are just playing the music. What happens next? Those who know the words begin to softly sing along with the music.
Peter, at the end of his first letter (1 Peter 5), shares some parting counsel with his readers. Some of the words of wisdom stand out from the others: “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you into his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm strengthen, and establish you.” (5:11)
Peter describes God as ‘the God of all grace’. It’s interesting that he didn’t write: ‘the God of grace’, but the ‘God of all grace’ as if to underline that God’s very heart is one of abundant grace.
All of us face difficulties and struggles in our work to see disciples raised up and communities of believers multiplied. There are numerous obstacles such as our own pride, the hardened hearts of others, or just plain daily living. There is an enemy as well who seeks to wreak havoc in our lives and in the work in which we are engaged.
Peter’s counsel to his readers, and to us, is learn to celebrate the God of all grace. Despite everything that may be happening around us, one thing does not change and will not change: God has placed His unending love on us and no one will ‘snatch us’ from His grip.
It’s always easy to say what I just wrote. It’s quite another to lay hold of it each day, with our arms of faith. Probably why we need to find ways to ‘tell ourselves the Good News’ again today, tomorrow, and each day this week.
A great way is by remembering or rehearsing the words to songs that put our hearts back on Christ.
Here’s a song I might suggest: Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me
What gift of grace is
Jesus my redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace
To this I hold, my
hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to His
Oh how strange and divine, I can sing: all is mine!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Filed under: Celebration, Grace, Worship |
Thoughts Along The Journey 
I have not meditated on that aspect within that verse. So thanks for this. His Grace has spoken to me lately in the verse…”He will in no wise cast you out” and in how He responded to everyone He interacted with and did not sensor them. What Grace!!
I was ‘surprised’ by the way that Peter put the term: “the God of ALL grace”. I think, as you said, the Scriptures come back to that idea in a number of ways. Grace is the ocean that we can never plum the depths of!