Grace
to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:2
We're
all looking for peace in our lives. Whether personal peace from
anxiety or peace with one another. Paul addresses all believers with
this familiar greeting. The only exception is his pastoral letters
where he adds the word 'mercy.' Christian Pastors and leaders who
labor in preaching and teaching are worthy of double honor as they
labor in the word and doctrine (1st
Timothy 5:17).
We
tend to come up against a wall in our search for peace. Most of us
want what we want first, and that is rest (peace) from the load we're
under.
But
grace must always come before peace. Until we experience the ease and
dignity of God's grace in our lives, there can be no peace. Being
under a penalty means getting what we deserve. But Christ who knew no
sin took our penalty on Himself becoming sin for us that we might be
made righteous (2nd
Corinthians 5:21). That's grace. That's peace.
God's
grace is extended to all. He's unwilling that anyone should perish
but all should come to repentance (2nd
Peter 3:9). Realizing the weight of that penalty being lifted can bring us to worshipful praise and thanks with a peace that cannot be fully fathomed.
Any
weight lifted is a relief. Christ brings freedom to His children in
any situation. His grace offers pardon and power. Power to obey,
serve, pray, and tell others of their own reprieve and of the glorious God who made it possible. Grace and Peace to you. Or Grace
with
peace. Either way, where Grace rules, Peace reigns.
Ken
