Peter Mentions Many-Sided Grace

There were Jews living in Jerusalem who had come there from all parts of the world. Among them were some from northern Turkey (as we know it today), namely the provinces of Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia. At the feast of Pentecost they were among those who heard the good news of Jesus each in his own language. They were there when Peter spoke out so boldly:

"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know - this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. But God raised him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it...... Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." (Acts 2.22‑4.36).

Thirty years later Peter was writing a letter to Jewish believers in that area - perhaps even some of the same people who had been there at Pentecost - in conformity with his agreement with Paul that he should go primarily to the Jews while Paul took the good news to the Gentiles. Imagine Peter, settled now in Rome (which they referred to as Babylon!) He was aware that troubles were about to descend on the Christian community. The persecution under the Emperor Nero was imminent - so was Peter's death. Knowing that they were likely to be punished simply for being Christian, Peter writes to encourage the believers. Silas, who had been with Paul, helps him to get it written down, and then perhaps acts as his messenger. We can think of the letter being taken by ship to the coast of Pontus on the Black Sea. Then it would be carried from church to church in a wide circuit through all the provinces, Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and back to the sea in Bithynia.

At each church Peter's encouragement and warnings would be read out. We too can read them, in 1 Peter. It was evident to Peter that 'we are near the end of all things now' (4.7). The goal toward which God is working had nearly been reached. Because of this he mentions some essentials for their lives.

The first essential was to be 'calm self-controlled men of prayer' (Phillips). 'Keep your heads and be sober for your prayers' (King). Prayer is indeed the first essential. The Christian's aim in the midst of fears and uncertainties must be to keep in touch with God.

The second essential is to have love for one another, a real deep love, an eager love. True love will overlook a neighbour's faults. It is God's love for us which covers our sins. Love is the quintessential quality of a truly Christian community.

Thirdly, this love issues in hospitality. The community under stress of persecution needs to hang together. Those who lost their homes needed a shelter. Traveling ministers needed the same. A welcome must be real, not grudging.

Fourthly, whatever gifts God has given them, they are to use to the full. Preachers should speak God's message with conviction and authority, while those with practical abilities should realise that these come from God, and they must use them so that God may get the credit.

This position of being a steward of what God has given, this sharing out to all, is significant. Modern English versions put it in various ways: be good stewards... efficient stewards... good managers, not just passing on God's grace but taking a grip on what we are doing for him. Passing God's gift around, so that all may have a share. Faithful dispensers - like chemists who hand out from their remedies in stock just what is needed.

Note what is passed on, it is God's gifts, his grace. It is the talents and the possessions which come from Him in his love, kindness and grace. These gifts are wonderfully varied.

His grace is many-sided, multi-coloured even. The Greek word is poikilos, and it might conjure up images for Peter's readers. God's grace is like the vivid pattern of a leopard's skin, like the sheen of a bird's plumage, like cloth woven from many different coloured threads. Like cunning metalwork on a shield. His grace operates like a person who has many sides to his character, is astute to see more than what is plain and obvious, and so can cope with any emergency.

The church has always depended on God's grace, which is shown in his gift of servants to serve the body and in his gift of abilities to equip those servants. But over and beyond this, his grace extends in a multi-coloured, multi-faceted way to meet every one of our needs.

As Peter assured the believers in those provinces so long ago, if we will stand fast against whatever is thrown at us in life, God will stand fast with us. In his grace.

"So, humble yourselves under God's strong hand, and in his own time he will lift you up"... "throwing all your cares on God, because God is concerned for you."