Grace to You

Philippians 1:1-2 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 
 
WE closed our study of Philemon with a focus on grace. Now Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi begins with the same expression of God’s wondrous mercy. There are many words we use in the church and generally in Christianity that have their root in the character of God. For example, “love” is often spoken as the core of God’s character. We speak of “blessing” to describe God’s benevolent care and gifts. And we certainly talk of salvation, reminding us that we are saved into the Kingdom of God.
    Let’s pause now on “grace” once more. When Paul wrote, “Grace to you” you might have, as I often do, skipped right over the word. Perhaps you thought, “That’s nice.” This is a common response, I believe, to grace.   
    But grace isn’t “nice”. It is remarkable. Grace is joyful! When we stop to wondrously acknowledge the “Grace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” we will see God. Paul reminds us that grace is God’s conduit, a passageway through which God’s power flows to mankind. Into that passageway, the Father sent his only Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. By grace Jesus came to submit to the Father’s will to obediently be the way by which the Father saves you. The “means of grace” regarding salvation means you don’t have to earn your salvation through a standard of perfection. In God’s grace, you are given a sin-free life before the Father as you confess, “I’m a sinner. Jesus is my Lord.” By grace you have faith to believe Christ has given himself for you.
    Do you pause as you go through the different moments of each day to remember, “God’s grace has come to me through Jesus.” Then, do you say to yourself, “Wow!”
 
Joy Link: God’s grace is a WOW! (Wonder Of Wonders!)