1 Peter 5:10 says, “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.”

Let’s break down this verse and consider its message:

• THE GOD OF ALL GRACE – God is often given a name according to the subject that is being taught in the scriptures. If the topic is peace, then He is the God of peace (Philippians 4:9). If the topic is comfort, He is the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3). If the topic is love, He is the God of love (2 Corinthians 13:11). Here, the topic is grace, and He is the God of all grace. Indeed, He is the God of our individual need. 1 Peter 4:10 speaks of the “manifold grace of God.” John 1:14 tells us that He is “full of grace…”
• WHO HATH CALLED US UNTO HIS ETERNAL GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS – The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto HE CALLED YOU BY OUR GOSPEL, TO THE OBTAINING OF THE GLORY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.” We are called by the proclamation of His glorious Gospel to share in God’s glory. This is, of course, not speaking of God’s ESSENTIAL GLORY, which is His alone. This is speaking of that ACQUIRED GLORY which was given to the Lord Jesus and shared with us, as we read in John 17:22, “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.”
• AFTER THAT YOU HAVE SUFFERED A WHILE – For the believer, suffering for the Lord’s sake is an honor. Philippians 1:29 tells us, “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” After the Lord’s disciples had been beaten because of their testimony, we read in Acts 5:41, “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”

While suffering will come to those faithful to the Lord’s name, we are assured that it is only for a short period, and the God of all grace will use this suffering to:

• MAKE YOU PERFECT – By means of our trials and afflictions, the Lord will cause us to become perfect (mature). Hebrews 13:21, “Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
• STABLISH – Psalms 40:2 says, “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” The Lord will cause us to stand firm in the faith, not wavering when troubles arise.
• STRENGTHEN – For whatever the Lord may see fit for us to endure, He will strengthen us so that we might endure and overcome. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
• SETTLE YOU – This literally means that we will be put upon a firm foundation, even as a house is built on a foundation that will last.

It is the ‘God of all grace’ that will faithfully work out these things in the lives of His saints. (253.4)