MORNING MANNA         6-27-21

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