1 Corinthians 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Oooooh, wait, wait, wait. Did you just hear what God gives unto every believer in Christ?
His Grace!
His Peace!
How would this day be if you knew God’s grace and God’s peace were for you, over you, and in you?
We have become so used to the word "GRACE," yet think about it: to enter this day without earning nor deserving God’s goodness and favor, but to live in all of it as a gift through the Son!
And, think about this, none of us can make or maintain or enjoy real peace apart from Jesus, because it’s once again God's gift through Christ unto us who believe in Him!
You see, grace and peace are a daily gift we get to open and enjoy through faith in Jesus Christ.
Without faith in Christ, people understand God’s grace and peace merely as words that Christians mention and talk a lot about, but in Christ, in Him, God's grace and peace are for us and in us!
That’s why almost all New Testament letters begin with these words, because they were written to believers who received them by faith.
These words aren’t a secondary way of "I greet you real quick” to get to the content of the real stuff we need to address; no, they're the reminder of the gift of God unto us.
When I read it afresh this morning, I wondered, what do God’s grace and peace do in us?
Watching the things our brother Peter described in 1 Peter 2:9 will bring into remembrance God's grace and peace working in us, as its by His grace and His peace in Christ we get to be called a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Pet 2:9).
We don’t live in Christ Jesus through effort, but by God's grace given to us, as His undeserved goodness and favour enfolds us, and transform us.
Sadly, so many believers still seek peace through religious methods and works and deeds and organising and planning, while God's peace is fully ours in and through faith in Christ; its only in Jesus!
So, Grace to you and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen