Men God Moved

As Bible teacher Andy McIlree, says, "Tracing the grace of God in Peter's first letter is like seeing the glory of God in Romans and the greatness of God in Hebrews." In this deeply practical book, Andy takes us through each of Peter the rough fisherman's 5 chapters, and introduces us to the manifold grace of God expressed in at least 11 different aspects: 1. GRACE REQUIRED IN AN UNGRACIOUS MAN 2. GRACE RESTORED IN OUR MISTAKES 3. GRACE RECEIVED IN THE GOSPEL 4. GRACE REGARDED IN WORSHIP AND WITNESS 5. GRACE REINFORCED IN TRIALS 6. GRACE RECIPROCATED IN MARRIAGE 7. GRACE RECOGNISED IN HOLINESS 8. GRACE REVEALED IN SPIRITUAL GIFTS 9. GRACE REFLECTED IN LEADERSHIP 10. GRACE REGAINED IN BIBLICAL TRUTH 11. GRACE RE-EMPHASISED IN PAUL'S LETTERS "The call that came from the Man on the shore didn't reach Peter on a day off or on an off day! He was fully engaged in his work, a fisherman through and through, hook, line and sinker, until Jesus called him to fish on the landward side of the beach. Like the others, he left men to find men. "Immediately" they left all to walk with the One who ministered grace, not least into Simon's faults that he might make him into the kind of man who would minister to others, including us. God doesn't hide His failures. He restores them. There's something very stimulating and encouraging about God's making room in His Word to record Simon's mistakes, but it's been well said that 'the man who never made a mistake never made anything.' Simon made lots of them, but the Lord made a lot out of him, and in this we find the grace that helps us not to lose heart when we fail. Failing doesn't make us a failure!" Chapter 2, Grace Restored in His Mistakes "He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation." This is what we know as 'the Rapture' when the church will be "caught up" at His coming. It is by faith that we "eagerly wait for Him." Until then, He continues to give what John describes as "grace for grace", ever-flowing and overflowing, like a river over its bed or waves over a beach. Yesterday's flow is replaced by today's, and today's by tomorrow's, just as today's grace replaces yesterday's in the sure hope of tomorrow's and brings renewed refreshment to the soul. James simply calls it "more grace" and Annie Johnson Flint captures this well in her hymn: "He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater, He sendeth more strength when the labors increase; To added afflictions He addeth His mercy To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace." Chapter 3, Grace In the Gospel