Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams

1 Peter 1:2 May grace and peace be yours in abundance.

It could easily be assumed that Peter was using a canned greeting at the beginning of his first letter to the early Church. On the other hand, couldn’t it been much more than that. Couldn’t it be that Peter was offering a blessing or a prayer much like the priestly prayer from the days of Moses (Numbers 6:22-26)? I am convinced that Peter is not just wishing these early Christians “champagne wishes and caviar dreams;” but rather has come to know God’s grace and peace in increasing measure, and desires this for all believers.

God’s grace and peace do not simply refer to good times with great things happening. In fact, the context of this proves that they are likely not tied to circumstances at all. The Christians of this time were persecuted in ways that most of us today cannot identify with. Yet here is Peter, wishing them to know grace and peace in increasing measure. Could he have hoped that their situations would grow more stable with increasing measure? He certainly could, but he also could have hoped for them to experience God’s grace and peace abundantly in spite of the circumstances they found themselves experiencing.

God’s grace, His unmerited favor and His power to live the life to which we have been called, is not tied to physical circumstances. To know the peace of God that passes understanding does not require a life on Easy Street. In fact, I would suggest that neither of these are directly correlated to the circumstances of life but are totally dependant upon the God that rules over all circumstances. Let me assure you, in case you have not figured this out on your own, there are terrible things that happen to us in this life. There are things that we cannot explain, things that hurt us to the very core, but be assured of this, even in the worst of times you can know God’s grace and peace.

Let me challenge you as you read these words to stop focusing on your present situation and start focusing on the Eternal God that rules all situations. Cling to Him, hang on to His promises that He will never leave you or forsake you, that He works all things for the good of His people, and that His grace is sufficient for you. Some days it will be difficult, almost impossible, but you can trust that He can take care of you. Imagine what the disciples experienced as they crossed the sea with Jesus and a storm came up. Jesus was asleep in the stern of the boat and they were afraid. In fact, the disciples thought they were all going to die. Yet when they woke Jesus he did not react in fear, but once again demonstrated His amazing power as He called for the storm to stop and it did.

God loves you and has already saved you from your sins by faith in Jesus Christ. Don’t just trust Him for your eternity, but put Him on the throne of your life and trust in Him for every moment, and I pray that you will know His grace and peace in increasing measure every step of the way.