Amazing, Colorful Grace

"the manifold grace of God"

1 Peter 4:10

I read the coolest thing today.  Well, several cool things that added up to something really cool.

First, I read this verse in 1 Peter:  "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." 

Next I read the dictionary definition of "manifold".

Then I read the Greek word used in that verse.

Here's the culmination of those interesting tidbits:

Manifold.  Adjective.  Old English origin, meaning "many and varied... of numerous kinds... having countless features or forms... multiplied".

In the Greek:  poikilos, meaning of various sorts, or various colors.

Now, think about what grace looks like.  It's a gentle word, isn't it?  Partially because of the meaning, and partially because of that soft C sound.

Grace...

It's feminine sounding, which is probably why it's so easily used for a girl's name.  And it's a simple word, only one syllable.  And the color of the word "grace" is a soft yellow.

But manifold grace, well that changes everything.  Now it's not simple; it's complex.  It's many and varied.  Grace from me to you doesn't look like grace from you to me.  Grace is moving and active... kindness and goodwill extended out in many directions.  The word grace comes from the Latin for "grateful".  Manifold grace is gratefulness, multiplied.

And the color?  If "grace" is a soft yellow, then manifold grace is an explosion of color.  It's God's grace, though a prism.  It's God's light, reflected in you, in a thousand different directions.  And He is glorified.

Now, isn't that cool?

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