“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”
Now we come to a series of four architectural metaphors. These metaphors suggest our survival kit for suffering.
perfect
Note the sequence of thought here: “But may the God of all grace…make you perfect.” God, by his grace, makes us perfect. The Greek word “perfect” means to render fit, complete. “Perfect” comes from two terms to fit and down. It carries the thoughts of mending, repairing, completing, preparing, and putting in order. The idea is that God will restore us to a former condition.
Secular Greek used “perfect” for setting a fractured bone. The New Testament uses it for mending a net (Mark 1:19). The predominant idea in the word “perfect” is an adjustment. God will put the broken parts into right relationship. He will put us into a proper relationship with himself. God will mend people who come to him as the God of grace. He will take the broken pieces of your life and repair them for his eternal glory.
“Perfect” always carries the idea of supplying that which is missing. God will mend the broken. He will restore lives ruined in sin. God will put us in joint by adjusting us to his plan.
Galatians 6:1 translates our word “perfect” as “restore.” God will put us in the proper order. He will arrange our lives to be in their proper place in his will and fellowship with his person.
God will complete what is lacking in your faith through other believers.
“Night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?” (1 Thessalonians 3:10).
God will outfit or equip us for any situation in life. The hothouse produces puny plants that fade in a day. Mountains have trees that withstand violent winds. God puts adversity in our lives to develop a godly character that will endure anything that may come our way.
PRINCIPLE:
God can and will mend you if you let him unscramble your life.
APPLICATION:
God perfects us by orienting us to suffering. He mends our lives. He puts them back together again by his grace.
If a Christian has spiritual wounds, he needs someone to stitch his spiritual lacerations. God can do that. He will take your problem and your burden and build something remarkable. When He mends your life, you will not find any open wounds.
God is in the business of putting Humpty Dumpty back together again. Who can unscramble a scrambled egg? The God of “all grace” can. He will take all the broken pieces of your life and put them back together again.
Right at this time, you may be going through deep waters. It may feel like you are about to drown. Some people say, “I can’t take it anymore. It is too great for me to bear.” Only God knows how much hurt there is in some families. There is misunderstanding, bitterness, hostility, and resentment. Such an atmosphere deforms the viewpoint of children. When they sense this hatred, they develop disillusionment toward God.
Is your family broken? God will put them back together again. God will do this even for Christians who have radically stepped out of fellowship with Him. God can restore harmony between husband and wife and parent and child. God can join them perfectly together again.
“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10).
There is an onus upon God to restore us,
“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21).
There is an onus upon us to make ourselves complete,
“Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11).
Thank you for a fabulous and valuable word study. God Bless You
Thank you so much, from Bishop SN Matthias, I needed that.
You know body of Christ how God knows your very thoughts and when you ask Him a question he is faithful to answer. Thank you Lord for your faithfulness to answer us when we ask any question!!!! I remember asking the Lord in my mind what is it you would have me do for you? Right after I asked the Lord that question the Lord had me read in scripture you will mend broken lives. Wow-Thank you Lord for your quick response in scripture. The same day I was sewing up my couch from my dog who gets very rattled from various distractions. That answer he gave me came to my mind when I was mending the torn couch! I challenge you every day to ask God from your thoughts any question you may have for him, but watch out because God is quick to answer. Remember, you don’t have to know scripture, the Lord says lean not unto thy own understanding in all thy ways acknowledge him and he will make your path straight. So when you open the bible for your answer just allow the Lord to guide you and watch what happens. Be sure to record your question and the answer as soon as possible. God has his eye not only on you but on your motives and thoughts. You have not because you ask not. What will you ask the Lord today. What answer did He give you? Enjoy the journey ❤️
Thank you so much much .I have had six dreams that said, sew,sew,sew. I also saw Needle and thread. This finally gives me revelation : equipping, mending, and training the saints.
This was such a blessing to remind me that God is able to restore and bring back perfection in his likeness to whatever that was broken in my life i just want to say it really makes me feel refresh Amen.