“The manifold grace of God” . . . now there’s a phrase to chew on. Some translations say “God’s grace in its various forms” or “God’s varied grace” . . . but I got to say that I like the wording in my NKJV — it just seems to resonate so deeply. The grace of God . . . manifest in various ways . . . dispensed without measure but not dispensed in uniformity . . . variegated (I like that word) aka multi-colored . . . same grace, different shades . . . same source of all grace, but dispensed individually and uniquely . . . intended to gift and equip believers just as the Giver of all grace determines. Peter reminds me this morning that, while I am a trophy of His grace, I am also a recipient of a some specific “flavor” of His manifold grace, and, in that, I am to be a dispenser of grace.

Peter says to the believers he’s writing to that each one has received a gift. For example, he says, it could be a gift of speaking or a gifting of a heart that zones in on serving others (1Peter 4:11a). Paul talks of the same “gracing” in his letters where he refers to the “manifestation of the Spirit which is given to each for the profit of all” — that manifestation finding shape in the gift of wisdom or knowledge or faith or healings . . . different gifts . . . the same Spirit distributing to each one individually as He wills (1Cor. 12:7-11). In Romans, Paul speaks again of differing gifts according to the grace given us . . . gifts of teaching, exhorting, sharing with others, leading, and mercy (Romans 12:6-8) . . . all different . . . all given as God determines . . . all the manifold grace of God.

And while God “fills the cup” of this believer with these Spirit powered abilities and passions of His choosing, mine is to be a faithful steward (1Peter 4:10) . . . a wise manager . . . a willing dispenser . . . of the multi-colored, varied manifestation, of the grace of God. Talk about your high and lofty calling.
As much “fun” as it is to mediate on God’s awesome creativity in the way He dishes out from the treasures of His storehouse of grace, I also need to understand the responsibility that’s mine as a recipient of some this manifestation of the Spirit. To think I don’t have a gift . . . or that whatever I do have really isn’t intended to “go public” and be used, is to call God a liar. To not accept that God has made me a piece of His grace filled patchwork quilt, is to miss out on such a key aspect of my salvation. To not take up the charge to be a steward of that piece of grace I’ve received . . . to not seek to diligently share that which He has given me to share . . . is to be disobedient to this part of my calling.

Recipients of grace? You bet! Stewards of grace! You bet too!

What a privilege . . . what a responsibility . . . what a high and lofty calling. To be a channel of the manifold grace of God . . . dispensing the grace He supplies. And I am to do so “that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1Peter 4:11b). It’s not my gifting . . . not my abilities . . . not my manifold grace . . . it is His . . . and, as such, my stewardship of that gifting is but for His glory.

The manifold grace of God . . . a phrase worth chewing on . . . a stewardship worth accepting . . . that the grace of God might be dispensed by the people of God for the glory of God. Let’s do it!