11. The God of All Grace

"The God of All Grace"
1 Peter 5. 10

In this short text we have found a spiritual nugget, which we greatly desire to share with others. Notice, our verse describes God as "the God of all grace." Not the God of much grace, but the God of all grace. Grace for every need in our life. No matter in what situation we may find ourselves, "the God of all grace'' has the help we need. Grace is the undeserved love of God given to us unworthy sinners to sustain us in every situation.

God has grace to save any sinner regardless of the nature of his sin. There is no place in all the Bible where certain sinners are excluded because their sins are too great. Rather, we read about Christ ''that by the grace of God he should taste of death for every man'' (Hebrews 2. 9). Weary sinners, take courage. Do you sense that your sins are many and great? Then remember, "Where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly'' (Romans 5. 20). There is more grace in this world than sin.

God can give us grace to suffer any affliction. The apostle Paul had "a thorn in the flesh" that troubled him greatly. Three times he prayed the Lord to remove it from him, but the only answer he received was, "My grace is sufficient for thee, for my power is made perfect in weakness'' (2 Corinthians 12. 9).

That was all Paul needed, for he could then say, "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weakness that the power of Christ may rest upon me." Dear friend, are you suffering? Listen to the "God of all grace'' say to you, "My grace is sufficient for thee." And notice, He does not say it "will be'' sufficient, but it "is" sufficient.

God can give us grace to suffer the loss of loved ones. Have you ever had to face the loss of some loved one, and you did not know what to do? How easy at a moment like that to forget that we have a God who is "the God of all grace." Job lost in one day all ten of his beloved children. What a blow it must have been! That same day he also lost all his wealth. In this trying moment he looked to "the God of all grace'' and said, "Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah'' (Job 1. 21). In the day of his greatest loss he gave one of his greatest testimonies. That is what the grace of God can do.

God can give grace not to worry. Worry is sin. It is a distinct mark of unbelief. One who worries has forgotten that we have a "God of all grace." And "all grace'' includes grace not to worry. His Word admonishes, "In nothing be anxious, but in every- thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God'' (Philippians 4. 6). In other words, tell God about it, and leave it there. "Casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you'' (1 Peter 5. 7).

God can give us grace to die. Some people fear death. It haunts them constantly. Therefore they dare not think of it. How foolish! They have forgotten what our Saviour accomplished through death! He came "that through death he might bring to nought him that hath power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage'' (Hebrews 2. 14-15) . O1d Simeon was ready to die after receiving Jesus, and testified, "Now lettest thou thy servant depart, Lord, according to thy word, in peace; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples'' (Luke 2. 29-31). He knew what it was to have grace to die.

Friend, do you sense the need of grace? It is free. "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble'' (1 Peter 5. 5). Ask "the God of all grace," and He will give it to you."

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt;
Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Sin and despair like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the Refuge, the Mighty Cross.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe;
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?
JULIA H. JOHNSTON.

Maynard Force
My Hearts Desire
Augustana Book Concern 1949