SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 4-5
“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.” (1 Peter 5:10)
The message of grace in this graceless world is indeed good news.
But accepting this good news does not make life easier.
I can’t see how people justify the ‘health and wealth’ (or American Dream) gospel from the bible.
We are repeatedly reminded that we will suffer for believing and following the message of Jesus.
Grace will be walked over, spit on, used and abused… but it will never be beaten.
We choose grace not because it is easy, but because it is right and good.
We follow Jesus not because life will get better, but because it is the only right way to live.
In the end, grace and life will win, and those who held on for it will receive it.
Our day is not yet, but our day is coming, when he will restore us.
One day we will enter into eternal glory, and will stand strong, firm and steadfast – forever.
Like Martin Luther King, we stand for what is right, not because it is easy but because it is right.
The only life worth living, the only world worth living for, is God’s world of grace, peace, love, justice.
Until it arrives, we dedicate ourselves to living that life, with His help, for the benefit of others.
We allow our lives to be channels of His grace – faithful stewards of His grace (1 Peter 4:10).
“After you have suffered a little while, He will restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (1 Peter 5:10)
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, it is often hard to stay true to grace in this graceless world. Give me the grace to persevere, until You finally set things right!