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Prepared By The Mighty Hand of God

Now, the God of all grace, the One calling you into that His everlasting glory in Christ, himself will after you endure suffering for a little while, prepare, confirm, strengthen, establish. To Him the power to all time. Amen.*

God, of His graceful character, "opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."* God blesses from the riches of His grace and glory, "the one blessing us in all blessings spiritual in the heavenly places in Christ, even as he chose us in Him before creation of the world existing holy and blameless before Him, in love, predestined us for adoption as his own through Jesus Christ according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace like as favoring us in the beloved."* God predestined us for adoption, redemption, the forgiveness of sin and has called us to be conformed to the image of His Son into that His everlasting glory. If we but suffer a little while, He will prepare, confirm, strengthen, and establish.

... so that he exalts you in due measure.*

Exalt means to lift and to raise up. Though we can apply it to submission to authority as in the context of this verse, it has much more meaning. To lift and to raise up is related to growth in the parable of sowing. First the plant must be established, deeply rooted, and grounded. Then it must overcome, enduring the weeds planted by the devil, which try to choke out the plant. We cast our cares on Him, resisting the devil who seeks to destroy the plants of God. "Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing the same sufferings enduring, these your brotherhood in the world... suffer a little while and he will establish you..."*  To endure, the plant is lifted up, so to grow up to maturity, strong, overcoming the evil one. To raise up also speaks of the power of the Holy Spirit working in us and of His grace being a service or sufficiency for this. Together, to lift up and raise up speaks of growth and the need for endurance. We endure through knowledge of Him, being united in death, and raised in power. Thus we know him, the fellowship of His sufferings and the power of His resurrection.

enduring suffering for a little while, he will prepare, confirm, strengthen, and establish...*

Prepare is from katá, "according to," intensifying artizō, "to adjust;" meaning to get ready, prepare, complete. This is of the concept that we are His workmanship prepared beforehand, to do good works. The outcome of preparation will be good works or good fruit and only a mature plant bears fruit. The word for confirm speaks of being supported, propped up; to make stable, place firmly, set fast, fix; to make stand. The word for strengthen implies that which provides energy for effective action. For an athlete to run the race in the most effective way, he must be strengthened, enduring suffering of the body and mind. The word establish means to lay the foundation of. The one prepared, confirmed, strengthened, and established we can call His workmanship, a mature person, holy. The purpose of the suffering is to produce endurance and endurance when it has done its work produces one mature. So we see enduring the suffering within the trial has a goal; maturity. In enduring God will prepare, confirm, strengthen, and establish us. How do we endure? Jesus though a Son, learned obedience through suffering.* We endure through knowing Him, fellowship in His suffering, and being raised into newness of Life. The conformation to the image of Christ will produce Christians, people "Christ like," which the world needs more of.

Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God so that he exalts you in proportion.*

There is a false humility and a godly humility. There is submission to authority like as Jesus, which doesn't overlook walking and standing in truth. At no point did Jesus compromise truth in submission. He had a purpose, submitting to become a spotless Lamb that takes away sin, yes, but also he submitted, learning obedience through suffering. He consecrated himself in truth so that we may be consecrated in truth.*  His submission like ours is for the purpose of consecration. Jesus endured suffering, the opposition of sinners and a religious system that claimed to know God but rejected Him. He did nothing wrong but men opposed him, accused Him of doing evil and blasphemy. It is one thing to suffer for doing wrong it is another thing to suffer for doing good. Suffering is a hard teaching for those who believe in prosperity here on earth above heavenly things.

What distinguishes true humility? True humility is a teachable spirit. Jesus endured opposition as it was God's will, he learned obedience through suffering. This is the same concept Peter gives us of submission to unyoked authority; for the purpose of consecrating our hearts. Submission without consecration of the heart is false humility. Consecration requires a humble, teachable spirit, that learns obedience through suffering, but more so, one that joins to the Lord, participating in His death to also participate in His life.

Now, to bring us together, so that we share in His holy character.*

God disciplines us to bring us together, united, so that we share in His holiness. As His children we have boldness to approach Him, the throne of grace. It is about maturity, preparation, becoming who you are in Christ. God's mighty hand is conforming you to the image of Christ, it hurts, it is suffering, but when His children endure, in which both we are called to suffer and share, we share in His holy character. Humble yourselves under God's mighty hand, he is molding you, as the potter molds the clay, preparing you. We are His workmanship, prepared beforehand. Chosen, called, humbly prepared beforehand, and exalted, conformed to the image of Christ.


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