Grace and Power (we need to get this)

In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. [1 Peter 5.5-6]

It is all too easy to read the scriptures and only see the "memory verses" we have become accustomed to like 1 Peter 5.6.

However, it is important to see the context of the verses we otherwise single out in order to have the best understanding of all that is in them for us.

So, by adding verse 5 to 1 Peter 5.6, we can see that humbling oneself under the mighty power of God can be seen in greater clarity by including the preceding verse!

Look at this: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

If we then are to humble ourselves under the mighty power of God, we can see that "humbling ourselves" submits us to the grace of God! God's grace and power are at least closely related, if not one and the same!

This revelation brings new meaning to the apostle Paul's conversation with God about his "thorn in the flesh" for which God told Paul His "grace was sufficient" to deal with! If God's grace is indeed His power, then certainly God's response to Paul takes a whole new meaning.

I believe the Word is clear about God's grace and power. I believe believers need to arm themselves with an accurate estimation of God (based on His Word) and then, when a "thorn in the flesh" manifests, deal with it accordingly! Think of it... the power of God NEVER met an opponent it was not overwhelmingly equipped to annihilate! 

If we fail however to see the grace of God as His power, we are left scratching our heads in bewilderment how "God our Healer" would leave us un-healed. It is a perversion of God's character to assume in such a situation that God's grace would somehow negate His character! See how confusing that is!

God's power is simply Who He Is. God's grace is His power available to "faith."

Man, this is good.! God is good!

Father, thank You for continuing to reveal Who You Are! May we have eyes to see and ears to hear and hearts to understand!!!