THE GREATEST GREETING
“Grace be unto you, peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:2

Greetings are an important part of every culture. Some seem very strange to those of us living in America where we usually say things like “Good Morning” or “How are you today?” But with those in the early churches it was most likely to be “Grace and peace to you” or some form of that. At least 18 times in the New Testament we find the writer praying that recipients of the letter would receive grace and peace. I’m convinced that we could do no better.

Sadly precious phrases such as this are often read without being given a second thought. But they are a treasure trove of truth and deserving of our attention. As a parent and pastor, grace and peace is my heart’s desire for my children and church. I can’t think of anything more needed. Knowing the needs of many I love and knowing I don’t know nearly all their needs I dare not ask for less than grace and peace for them. I could ask for 1001 things, but without grace and peace it would  never be enough to meet their deepest needs. We can’t function faithfully without them.

Both of those come from “the God of all grace” (I Peter 5:10) who is “the God of peace” (Romans 15:33). But they come to us only through “the Lord Jesus Christ.” In Him we have glorious grace and perfect peace.

Notice that our text mentions “grace” before “peace“. It’s in that order because grace is the foundation and peace is the fruit. Grace is the reason and peace is the result. Combined these two cover all our needs. Grace is greater than gold or glory and peace is more priceless that possessions or pleasure. Give a man grace and peace and he is content under any circumstances.

I shudder to think where we would be without grace and peace. We would without help or hope. Grace opens up the window of Heaven and pours out all our needs. Peace provides the power for us to be content in whatever state we’re in. (Philippians 4:11)

While every Christian possesses a  measure of grace and peace these can be multiplied, and it should be our desire to experience an increase of both grace and peace, and we should wish the same for others. Regardless of how much we have there could be more. We never exhaust the supply or either one. Sadly some are content with what they have. It’s as though they feel that they have attained the full stature of Christ. Maybe goes as far as they care to or are stuck in a rut short-changing themselves. They bind the Holy One of Israel and deprive themselves of what they could have had. I pray these thoughts will create within you a desire for “grace and peace”. – HDS

— Heart? If you are unsaved the answer is “No”. Your heart is defiled and deceived. It cannot be trusted ( Jer. 17:9). Regardless of how your life appears to others or how well you feel about it, all isn’t well and will never be well until you receive Christ as your Lord and Savior. If you are saved all should and could be well. The new birth provides a new heart and that produces change. Having received a new nature we now desire what we once disdained and delight in what we once despised. But sometimes even Christians go astray.The question is, as the old hymn says, “Is thy heart right with God?”
If the heart is right with God we will honor Him as our Father, follow the Son of God is our Lord, depend on the Spirit of God as our helper, look to the Word of God as our guide, submit to the will of God as our desire, seek the glory of God as our goal, take the grace of God as our song, praise God continually, find the peace of God to be our comfort, and trust the promises of God is our anchor.

— Head? By “head” I’m not talking about that semi-round thing that sits on your neck. I mean your thinking faculty, thoughts, intellect, your mind. This affects every area of your life. You can’t think wrong and live right. And it is obvious that most folks are off-track and confused. They are blind to the truth and misguided by their reasoning. That’s why the world is in a mess and doesn’t even know it.
But when all is well with the head God’s Word is trusted as the only sure guide; God’s promises are seen as reliable and precious; God’s love is seen as unending; God’s Son is seen as Faithful and True; God’s Spirit is seen as your Helper; God’s grace is seen as sufficient; and God’s glory is seen as your primary purpose. We will do as we’re commanded in 2 Cor. 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”So, how is it with you? Is all well?

Here we see three things that deserve our attention: 1. A Strict Command – “Be not deceived”2. A Stern Warning – ” God is not mocked”3. A Sure Law – “for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”In light of that we ought not be deceived, defiled, or destroyed.

Uncertainties in life are certain. Regardless of your IQ or level of education you are forced to live with uncertainty. However, there are some things you can depend on with absolute certainty. One of them is the law of sowing and reaping. It is a rock solid certainty that you will reap what you sow and you need to focus on that fact.

The sad thing is that most people refuse to consider the consequences of their choices. They ignore the righteous demands, wise counsel, stern warnings, and passionate pleas from God. They even fail to learn from the failures of others and their own past painful experiences. Although the evidence is there for all to see they are blind to the truth and driven by sinful passion. They never seem to learn that no one sins successfully. The effort to gratify self rather than glorify God always leads to grief.

We reap what we sow- the Word of God declares it – farmers literally bank on it – the prison population is evidence of it – ruined relationships and broken homes testify to it. And there are no exceptions to the rule. If you are truly concerned about your wellbeing you will live with this fact in view.

Notice the word “whatsoever”. That tells us that this law applies to the good as well as the bad. So whether it is sin or our service for God we reap what we sow- and more. Paul assures us in 1 Cor. 15:58 that our “labor is not in vain in the Lord”. That is a truth you can trust. Of that you can be certain! – HDS

At some point just about everyone is concerned about getting an answer to prayer, unfortunately few are concerned about being the answer to prayer. We pray because we recognize that we have a need and because God commands us to pray – for ourselves and for others. The fact is, everything depends on prayer, making it a matter of great importance. We all need what God alone can provide.

However, as we pray we should do so with a willingness to obey. Before we can expect God to do what we can’t we need to be willing to do what we can. It would be foolish for a farmer to pray for a good harvest if he isn’t willing to plow the soil and plant the seed. Even so, we have no right to believe God will answer our prayer if we refuse to do what we could and should. We should act as well as ask.

Not only is this true concerning us personally, it is true in regards to our relationship with others. Our text addresses this very subject. As we pray for others it should be with a willingness to answer our prayers by helping them. That means that we should allow God to use us as the means of meeting other people’s needs. After all, that’s what we would want them to do for us.

The problem is that we pray for God to help our neighbors in need , but we offer no help. We pray for those who are hungry, but give no bread. We pray for the lonely folks in the nursing home, but never visit them. We pray God will comfort the afflicted, but offer no aid. We pray for God to save the lost, but never witness to them.

And James makes it clear that a religion such as that is worthless. True saving faith will be accompanied by works. If our faith was as it should be we would weep with those who weep, and give to those who have nothing to give in return. Looking at difficult situations some say, “Well all we can do is hope and pray”, but they are wrong. We can hope, pray, and work. We can be the means of a miracle to someone by being the answer to our own prayer.- HDS

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346