As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1 Peter 4:10

Peter uses the word “manifold” to describe the grace of God. The word originally meant “many folds.” Back in the 1800s, it was used to describe a musical instrument involving a pipe or chamber with several outlets. Even today, we hear mechanics speak of the intake manifold in our car engines, which evenly distributes the air-fuel mixture to each of the cylinders.

This word “manifold” has been translated “God’s grace in its various forms,” “the varied grace of God,” “the multi-colored grace of God,” and “the variegated grace of God.” The grace of God has many facets to it, just as a cut diamond has many sides. As you turn a diamond in the light, you begin to see the uniqueness and beauty of the diamond. As you begin to experience the many sides of God’s grace in your life, you begin to appreciate its beauty as it reflects the One who has brought you into His favor.

In the context of today’s verse, Peter is exhorting us to serve one another based on the spiritual gift we have received from the risen Head, who has given each of us at least one spiritual gift. Paul goes into much detail about these gifts in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4. As you put those three passages together, you realize that the entire Godhead has distributed these spiritual gifts to us. In Romans 12, it is God the Father who is seen as the Giver; in 1 Corinthians 12, it is the Holy Spirit; and in Ephesians 4, it is the risen Head of the Body, the Lord Jesus Christ. Here, Peter simply instructs us to be good stewards of what God has given to each of us.

You and I have been brought into this manifold grace of God, and it is to be displayed in our lives, not to draw attention to us, but to bring glory to the very One who has given it to us. Peter goes on to say that whatever we do, “do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 4:11). You and I have not only been brought into God’s favor; we have been given God’s favor.

Anchor For Today:
All that we have has been given to us by grace, and we are to share this great grace with those He brings into our lives!