The Apostle Paul used the same salutation in several of his letters. The books of Romans, I & II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I & II Thessalonians and Philemon all contain these words, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
I think it is no coincidence that the word “grace” appears in the sentence before the word “peace”. I believe that’s quite an important message in itself.
Grace has been defined as “unmerited favor”, getting something we don’t deserve. It is the amazing grace of God that forgives us of our sins, saves us and secures our place in the family of God. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,” Eph. 2:8 NKJV. You have probably heard the adage “Know Jesus, know peace—No Jesus, no peace?” You see where I’m going don’t you? Grace comes before peace because we cannot know peace until you’ve experienced salvation by the grace of God.
Peace is something for which the world is desperately looking, yet not finding. There we find our mission, to share the Gospel and all the grace and peace it brings, with a lost and dying world. We need not look very far to find those who know no peace.
I hear the conversation over and over again, especially among those who have recently suffered the loss of a loved one. It goes something like, “I don’t know how people who don’t know the Lord get through times like this.” There is truly a great sense of peace that can be had when we know that our loved one knew Jesus as their Savior and has gone on to heaven to live completely peacefully for all eternity.
Yes that peace that passes understanding is a precious gift for sure. But we do wrong when we do not share this peace and the way the world can come to know it.
Like we saw Sunday morning, because of Jesus we have our revelation of God, (He is the image of the invisible God); our reconciliation to God (through Him those dead in sin can know life); and our relationship with God, (a personal, abiding relationship). Jesus died for the sins of all mankind, that’s the good news (the Gospel) and He has left us with the responsibility to share that good news with a world that is hopelessly lost in sin.
So let’s not be hoarders of the grace and peace of God, but rather take advantages of the opportunities that He will place along our path to share His good news! “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always [be] ready to [give] a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” —1 Peter 3:15 NKJV. Who can you talk to today about the peace you have? Then go do it!
