“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” (1 Peter 5:10 NKJV).
As we discussed yesterday, the word “perfect” here does not mean being without error or sin. It has to do with the wonderful work of God whereby He mends those things that are broken in my life. Tyranne was part of group that was touring Israel. Early in the morning the tour bus left the Kibbutz near the Sea of Galilee. The sun was shining brightly on the Sea. The fishing boats were already in. From a distance the tour group could see the fishermen sitting on the edge of the boat as they mended their nets. The guide spoke of the importance of the net to the fishermen. They would never allow it to remain broken or in disrepair. As the bus pulled from the area on the way to the next site, Tyranne turned to his friend across the aisle and said, “Thank you for praying for me and for all the wise Biblical counsel you have invested in my life, Paul. I came to you several years ago as a broken believer who was going through such difficulties. God has used you and His Word to stitch me back together again, just like those fishermen. Thank you, Paul.” It was a great day celebrating the goodness of God and His work of “perfecting” or mending brokenness in the lives of believers.
For today: Are you seeking the Lord God in your difficulties? He wants to “perfect” you just as a faithful fisherman mends his nets.