GOD OF ALL GRACE WANTS TO DEVELOP OUR LIVES

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1Pet 5:10)

The God of all grace wants to develop your life.

The Scripture gives us a reassuring title of God as a God of all grace. It is comforting to know that our God has all graces needed to meet our needs in midst of sufferings. According to the nature of grace, this wonderful title of God reminds us that in all situations, God's dealings with us are not based on what we deserve, but on his love for us. No matter how fierce our testing, we can always be thankful we are not in hell where we ought to be.

Grace from God as a helping hand, comes to us in different measures according to the gift of Christ we have received. These measures of grace have been expressed in the bible using terms like "abundance", "overflowing" (Rom 5:17), "exceeding" and "exceedingly abundant" (2Cor 9:14; 1Tim 1:14). The emphasis of these words helps us to know with confidence the enormous supply of grace available for us all and for every kind of situation we may face. This knowledge intends to birth in us a higher level of trust in God's ability to supply all the grace we need in our spiritual walk. No matter what our trials, we should remember and trust he is the God of all grace.

Notice in the opening Scripture, the God of all grace has called us to His eternal glory by Jesus Christ. This calling testifies, by the finished work of Christ, at the charge of Christ, we have been called from a filthy scrap heap to His eternal glory. Wow! What an amazing grace. This consolation helps us to look beyond the suffering of this present life to the time when we shall be with the saviour and be like him and with him forever.

However, while we are in this life, God is using every opportunity in our life journey to develop us in living a graceful life. As a child born fully human is trained to live human life, God's plan in developing us is to use his grace in every trial to perfect our lives. God may not create suffering for his people, but in every life situation, he will supply his grace to develop us in living the kingdom life. Scripture says, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1Cor 10:13. In our challenges, he will make a way of escape. It is reassuring that that in grace, God will not allow the temptation to have its way over you.

Now, notice in our opening scripture, part of God's plan is to perfect our lives. This speaks of God completing what is missing and equipping us for service, as the scriptures testify; "Now may the God of peace. . . make you complete in every good work to do His will. . . And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry" (Heb 13:20-21 and Eph 4:12).

Also, part of His plan is to establish our lives. This has to do with the Lord stabilizing our Christian walk, keeping us steadfastly moving in His direction for our lives. This word (sterizo) was used to describe Jesus' unswerving commitment to head for the cross, resurrection, and ascension that awaited Him in Jerusalem. "Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem" (Luk 9:51). We too must be steadfastly looking to God's calling in our daily walk.

Part of His plan is to strengthen our lives. Our calling to serve God requires strength that we do not have in and of ourselves. The Lord wants to teach us to draw upon His mighty power: "that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man" (Eph 3:16).

Finally, His plan is to settle our lives. This involves being increasingly grounded in God's ways: "that you, being rooted and grounded in love" (Eph 3:17).

#Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, God of all grace, I thank you for your word. I pray I receive all the grace i need daily to overcome the challenges in life. I pray you complete in me what am missing. I receive understanding to help me develop in every area of my spiritual life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.