Kept by the Power of God

What is your response when you think of God’s grace?

Today was Mother’s Day. This day was particularly important to me today because this is the first year that I have been without my mother. Though she was not well for several years, she was always there.

Though I never really thought so as I was growing up, my mother had a great impact on my life. She taught me to work hard. She taught me to be honest. She taught me to be independent. Mothers are so important because their single greatest influence is on their children. This is demonstrated in the Scriptures.

When Mary was told by Gabriel that she was to become the mother of the Messiah, she demonstrated her commitment, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Her Son would later say to his Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).

Moses was raised in the pagan culture, traditions, and religion of Egypt. And yet because of his spiritual mother, he never forgot his God or his people, and one day led them to their Promised Land.

Samuel’s mother, Hannah, was fervent in prayer, trusting God for a son. She gave that son back to the Lord. And he became Israel’s last judge, first prophet, and great spiritual leader.

Paul said to young Timothy, “When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5).

But what about people outside the Bible? Nero’s mother was a murder, and so was he. But the mother of George Washington was known for her integrity of character, as was her son. John Newton’s mother prayed for her wayward and sinful son until he came to that Amazing Grace—the hymn which presents his testimony.

When we trust Jesus Christ as our Lord, we come face-to-face with the grace of God. God’s grace was very important to Peter. In his first epistle, Peter referenced grace (charis) 10 times. The first is in his greeting when he says, “Grace to you and peace be multiplied.” Grace is the springboard from which Peter begins to instruct his audience (Christians who have been scattered abroad and who are suffering intense persecution) about the wonders of being chosen for a new birth (see 2 Cor 5:17).

Peter wanted to first present a theological basis for encouragement in persecution. Peter is stressing God’s grace toward the believers. Let’s consider the first statement made by Peter—the inheritance every Christian receives by trusting in Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3–5)

God is praiseworthy

Peter starts this passage by saying, “Blessed by the God…” The sense of this is statement is that God is worthy to be praised. God is the one to be praised. Interestingly, Peter uses the exact same words as Paul did in 2 Corinthians 1:3 (“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (2 Corinthians 1:3). I amazed that I am far more aware of God’s grace during the worst of times rather than during the best of times. Our suffering seems to point us to the wonderful grace of God and in that, we give Him all praise.

The only one worthy of praise is God who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is praiseworthy because He alone is the giver of eternal life and He is our only source of hope. God made a way for us to be reconciled to Him. There is no way that we can come to God apart from the work of Jesus on our behalf.