With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.      1 Peter 5:12 (NIV)
In my reading of Peter, he certainly seems very driven; someone who did not speak gently or even politely. And yet here Peter says that he needed Silas’ help to to write. Peter was a fisherman and in those days may not have had much of an opportunity to receive education. He may have needed Silas to write so that what he was hearing in his spirit or feeling in his heart could be put into language that is readily available and understandable.
Unlike Paul, Peter’s letters were more to the point and matter of fact. In this one verse, Peter sums it up: “I wrote you a few words to encourage you and as a testimony to the truth of God’s love. STAND FIRM in that LOVE!â€
My heart is “strangely warmed†as John Wesley said, by Peter’s words. God’s love is a fact. It is a fact that I can stand in when the winds of adversity blow! It is a fact that I can stand in when no one else brings their love my way without conditions! It is a fact that I can stand on when I have nothing else on which to stand. If I fell I have lost everything – I am still loved by God.
God’s love is a burst of encouragement in a draining world. I have spoken about how I have noticed the stars and the clouds and their beauty. God’s love is in those clouds and stars. I have stood and watched in awe as thousands of gallons of water rush over Niagara Falls and thought what it must have been like for those first Indians. They were walking through the trees wondering what was the sound that seem to grow into a louder roar. Then they followed a large river until – they beheld those magnificent falls. They must have fallen down on their faces in fear and awe! Thousands of years later, I too stood there and wept, not in fear, but in wonder of my Creator who made those Falls just for the good pleasure of His children! God who made the falls so great can still hold them in His hand! And He can also hold my heart ever so gently in His hand. Neither His power nor His gentleness has no end!
How GREAT is our Lord and WORTHY to be praise! Thank You, Lord, for Your extravagant, unsurpassed love! Thank You that You care for me in every minute, even when I am asleep or any other time that I am unaware. Thank You, Lord. Thank You! I will STAND today in Your Love! May the words that I speak and the thoughts that keep today – be pleasing to You, in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
