… encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God.
Summary: We have a choice in what we look at. The truth in Peter’s letter includes both the suffering that comes with separation from the world, and the joy of knowing God loves you. We have to choose which one we want to look at.
Truth can be a bitter pill to swallow. There are a lot of things we might not want to hear. One of them is that your lot in life is to suffer. Peter has laid down a lot of truth about suffering in his letter. He has also told us a lot of truth about the love God has for us. He calls this mega-dose of truth “encouraging” and points to the idea that this is the “true grace of God.”
What is?
Let’s review:
- The God of all grace
- has called you to eternal glory (way better than the alternative!)
- in Christ who will himself:
- Restore you
- Make you strong
- Make you firm
- Many you steadfast
I guess that is kind of encouraging, isn’t it?
We get to choose what we want to look at. We can focus on the suffering, but if we do, we take our eyes off of encouragements. If we focus on the encouragements, our hearts are lifted, and we have no time to spend worrying about our suffering.
Application: Stay focused on God. Nothing else matters.
Food for Thought: How would you summarize what Peter calls ”the true grace of God?”
Occasionally is is easier to just post a thoughtful article about the subject than to recreate and sort a variety of my own thoughts. True grace is of course God’s free unmerited favor which manifests itself in multiple ways in our lives, in His creation, and in the kindnesses of God’s providence, the encouragement of fellow believers, and His wonderful Holy Spirit which indwells and empowers us to do his will and work. I thought this might be some thoughtful material. God bless.
God’s Grace – 6 Ways to Understand Its True Meaning
Jennifer Heeren | Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
Sunday, June 30, 2019
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What is the grace of God? Simply put it is God’s favor and kindness toward us. God rains down grace on all mankind. He gave us the beauty and wonders of nature that we see each and every day. He gives us near misses when accidents are heading our way. He often brings us the right thing just in time. And He also gave us an innate conscience to know right from wrong. All these things are common graces, and everyone born on the earth has the benefit of them because God so loved the world.
Before I believed in the Lord, God wooed me with these kinds of graces: beautiful sunrises and sunsets, relaxing moments surrounded by God’s glorious creation in nature, fun, laughter, and camaraderie with friends. He also lured me with thoughts that there is something more in life, something beyond the simple notion that life is good.
Just being born on this planet includes many benefits. Oh, but when I became a believer in Christ, I got even more graceful benefits! In fact, believers are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm because we are united with Christ. Let’s take a look at 6 specific areas where God shows us grace.
Salvation Grace
The best grace is that God purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave all our sins. This immeasurable gift was given to you when you believed. You didn’t work for it and you didn’t even deserve it. If He stopped there it would have been enough, but He continues to give us even more grace, kindness, wisdom, and understanding. What an awesome God! For He so loved the world that He gave His only Son.
“Be still (cease striving) and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10).
Numerous Grace
I have sinned, I sin, and I will sin. I always seem to do what I don’t want to do and not do what I want to do, even though I want to do right all the time. Yet God will forgive me each time if I repent. All sins — past, present, and future — are forgiven after you believe in Christ.
Sin comes naturally but righteousness takes focus. Focus on obeying God’s Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to help. On my own, I seem to always say or do the wrong thing. But, when I confess each sin, try and learn from it, and change my way of thinking, the Lord forgives me. Not just every now and then but all the time. There is much more grace than I have sin.
Forgiveness Grace
Not only are all of my sins forgiven when I repent but I also gain a supernatural ability to forgive others of offenses they commit. God helps me to forgive little offenses, big offenses, and even previously unforgivable ones.
I have learned that forgiveness is possible even when the offense caused extreme hurt. There are examples of people forgiving other people of murder. Jesus, Himself, said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do,” from the cross! This kind of forgiving grace doesn’t take away from the depravity of the offense, but it does provide an atmosphere where the offender can repent if he chooses.
Forgiving grace requires the strength of God because when I’m left to my own thoughts, revenge and/or depression are at the forefront of my mind. Forgiveness is usually a God-ordained thought.
New Grace
Each morning I have the glorious chance to begin again. If I made mistakes yesterday, I can start over with a clean slate. Every new day, hour, and breath is a chance for me to act better and display more of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Because of His presence within me, I always have new opportunities to think and do better.
Instead of thinking only of me, I can show concern for others. Instead of being full of anxiety, I can be full of peace and joy. Instead of tapping my foot, I can wait with patience. God’s grace gives me the self-control to act with kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness.
Freedom Grace
Grace gives me the freedom to forget about other people’s opinions. I can learn to be the person that God created me to be before the lies of this world attached themselves to me. I don’t need to impress other people. I just need to be faithful to the One who created me, and He already loves me, so I have nothing to prove.
I am free to be me. I am fearfully and wonderfully made with a purposeful design. Getting to know God through His Word helps me to know my purpose in life. And when I know it, I can go ahead and live it. If the Son sets me free, I am truly free (John 8:36).
Future Grace
God promised to be with me at all times. His Holy Spirit will counsel me and prompt me as I go through my days. He is with me in each present moment and those moments lead to a glorious future. Even when I go through trials, and I will, He is there to help me get through them and make the environment around me better. Jesus even said that here on earth I will have many trials and sorrows. But I can take heart, because He has overcome the world (John 16:33). The unknown is easier to go through when you have a hand to hold. That’s grace—the feeling that I’m never alone.
Always remember that grace is a gift. You can’t earn it, but you get a lot of it. It’s free and abundant. When you go to God in heartfelt prayer, He will always give you what you need. Forget about worrying about getting what you deserve. Grace is getting much more than you deserve.
“You parents — if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him” (Matthew 7:9-11)
Photo credit: Thinkstock/Arrangements Photography
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Jennifer Heeren loves to write and wants to live in such a way that people are encouraged by her writing and her attitude. She loves to write devotional articles and stories that bring people hope and encouragement. Her cup is always at least half-full, even when circumstances aren’t ideal. She regularly contributes to Crosswalk. Her debut novel is available on Amazon. She lives near Atlanta, Ga. with her husband. Visit her at her websiteand/or on Facebook.
I think one important focus is truth. The things that Peter has spoken about – including being restored, secured, strengthened and established, are true graces as opposed to false. There is no false hope given here. It is not a grace built upon lies or deception. It is one we can trust and we can bank on. It is a reliable foundation for our faith and life.
Rich,
Thank you! I like your emphasis on truth. Paul describes God as “the pillar and foundation of the truth.” (1 Tim 3:15) That fits well with your observation.
How would you summarize what Peter calls ”the true grace of God?”
Through grace, Christ in us is the saving, redeeming, transforming power of God. The process of regeneration is going on continually as the grace of God is active in our hearts. We are told to surrender all personal effort and allow Christ in us to restore us. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” 2 Corinthians 12:9. A corpse cannot see, hear or respond in any way, those dead in sin may walk around, but they cannot see, hear or understand the things of God. Only when the Holy Spirit regenerates our dead hearts and gives each new life can we believe God and receive salvation in Christ.
God gives each new life along with the desire, faith and ability to obey His call. The Holy Spirit guarantees that we who receive God’s gift will continue to believe. Through regeneration, believers’ minds are renewed, and our lives transformed, as we live in the process of fulfilling our ultimate purpose.
Romans 12:1-2, 2 Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 2:13; Hebrews 11
We who now have life, have a new perspective of life as we seek to let God be God in us. This new LIFE is eternal true life which we can feel in our hearts the moment Christ moves in. Christ brings overwhelming strength, peace, contentment into our lives that were once only chaotic darkness. We can see the Glory of God all around us, feel His presence in our lives. We enjoy seeing others laugh and enjoy their good fortune. Our only battle is with our flesh as we choose spiritual life over physical death. There is no sorrow in these personal battles which increasingly end in victory over our flesh. We no longer fear the unknown which is simply “unknown”, and we live trusting the known. Our God is in charge and He offers freedom to all, as He calls us to live in Him.
Our hearts do suffer as we see the lost all around us. We feel a strong anger toward the evil of this world which has enslaved the majority of people. We feel deep sorrow as we see people committed to self destructive behavior, see a world where millions are being killed because they are inconvenient. It’s just plain sad to watch this world destroy itself as they pursue a battle against all that is Holy.
Occasionally we are used by God as He brings others to us for salvation, we enjoy the pleasure of seeing Him in action as He lovingly reasons with the unlovable who walk away as new creations. This is our purpose our greatest joy and appointed focus.
Ron,
What a powerful description of God bringing us to life! Well said. You also describe well the sadness of seeing the decay all around. Imagine how our Father feels. Yet, in the end He has determined that all should be made new again. What a wonderful promise of restoration!
Lavished with undeserved love and favor
Amen!!