After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen. Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.
(1 Peter 5:10-14, NASB)
How sad … We leave 1Peter today. I don’t know about you, but this little book has been encouraging, affirming, convicting … sometimes all at once!
What an appropriate closing, though. Yes, we will suffer “for a little while” as we inhabit these earthly bodies during our temporary stay on earth. While we’re here, God will “perfect, strengthen, and establish” us. Every day we’re on earth, we must strive to be more like Christ, knowing our ultimate reward is spending eternity with our Lord.
So as Peter wrote two thousand years ago: “… this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!”
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