Tidings for Tuesday
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. 1 Peter 5:10
When Charlie went to visit his friend in a part of the country he had never seen before, the two went for a walk to explore. When they came to a deep ravine, Bob pointed out a narrow path that ran along the ravine, telling Charlie to follow him. Bob scampered along the path that was familiar to him, but Charlie, terrified and reluctant, shuffled along slowly and with great caution. But as he looked ahead, he could see Bob moving with ease and confidence, and he took courage from Bob’s example, making it through the ravine safely. Charlie is like us, full of fears and apprehension until we understand that we are following a path that our Saviour has already trod, and we have His perfect example to follow. What at first appears to us to be suffering becomes a walk of service and devotion to our Lord.
Peter is writing to suffering Christians, folks enduring things that you and I know nothing about. Many were abandoned by their families, unable to find employment, scorned by all who they knew, persecuted and despised, and in many cases beaten and chased out of town. Some had died for their faith and all were hunted and harrassed. In the midst of their fears and deprivation and sorrow, Peter reminds them that their suffering is but for a while, and there is an eternal glory to anticipate. He reminds them that the struggles they are enduring will lead to better things for them, and will build them up in their faith.
When he writes of making them perfect, Peter is speaking of maturity, how the Christians will use their experiences to grow in their faith and in their dependence on God to sustain them. Maturity should be the goal of every Christian as we learn the Word of God and step into the responsibilities that God has for our lives.
The word ‘stablish’ refers to the stability of a Christian who has learned to depend on God. There is nothing wishy-washy about a Christian who has developed deep roots into the Word to be able to stand against the winds of opposition and satanic attack. The need to stand against the storms of tribulation will stablish and strengthen us as Christians. In ourselves, we are weak and incapable of surviving those storms, but we are not functioning in our own abilities. ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me’ (Philippians 4:13).
The term ‘settled’ refers to the confident satisfaction in being where the Lord would have us be, and doing what the Lord has for us to do. When we are settled, we are happy in the Lord.
Remember the chorus of the old hymn: Trust and obey, For there’s no other way, To be happy in Jesus, But to trust and obey. – Jim MacIntosh