1Pet 2:19 For this is grace, if anyone, because of a consciousness of God, bears sorrows by suffering unjustly. 20 For what glory is it if, while sinning and being buffeted, you endure? But if, while doing good and suffering, you endure, this is grace with God.
[Part 1 of 2] Here Peter is saying that if, due to our conscience toward God, we are willing to bear sorrows and suffer unjustly, that is, suffer unjust treatment, this is grace. The Greek word rendered “grace” in verse 19 is charis, referring here to the motivation of the divine life within us and its expression in our life, becoming in our behavior gracious and acceptable in the eyes of both man and God (v. 20).
As we have pointed out a number of times, grace is actually the Triune God becoming our life for our experience and enjoyment. With this understanding of grace as our basis, we can say that here grace is the motivation of the divine life within us and its expression in our living. Therefore, this becomes in our behavior something gracious and acceptable in the sight of both God and man.
The words “conscience toward God” also mean consciousness of God. This is the consciousness of our relation to God. It indicates that a believer is living in an intimate fellowship with God, that he has and keeps a conscience toward God that is both good and pure (3:16; 1 Tim. 1:5, 19; 3:9; 2 Tim. 1:3).
Prayer Confession King of Glory thank you for this word. I embrace the grace of God upon my life which is the motivation and expression of the divine life within me. Lord, may the motivation and expression of this divine life become in my behaviour bringing in an intimate fellowship with God keeping a good and pure conscience toward God in Jesus’ name, Amen.