Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father. Gal 1:3-4

I pray that you had a wonderful day of worship with your local church as you gathered with the saints on the Lord’s Day. Every day we encounter people with our lives. Some encounters are through personal interactions, others may be thoughts and memories. Some encounters are easy while other are difficult and demanding. Yet each encounter is an opportunity to grow in grace and peace with the Father. The scripture passage is a common greeting and reminder used by the Apostle Paul in his letters to the early churches. He was adamant about the grace and peace of God that was for every Christian to live the fullness of Jesus Christ that glorifies the Father. The Christian life is not free of troubles nor a bed of roses. There is constant friction with the world whose focus is on the present age, the pursuit of gain and its pleasures. These things appeal to all of us and trouble our affections with desires and aspirations for greater gain. For this conflict and constant trouble, Jesus came and “gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world.” He came that all who believe in Him “might have life, and…have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10). The life that Jesus gives is “grace…and peace from God the Father.” The world is filled of deceptions for peace, but peace, real peace is by the grace of God. Grace is God’s good-will towards us and His good work upon us. In scripture, grace always proceeds peace and you can never know the peace of God until you have received the grace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Dear friend, you can’t rest in His peace until you are wrapped in His grace. There is no harmony with God, no wholeness with Him until the God-sized hole in your heart is filled by the grace of God “from our Lord Jesus Christ.” Grace allows us to have peace with God, others, and ourselves. That is Christmas. That is “Emmanuel…God with us” (Mt 1:23). The Prince of Peace came unto the world, born of a virgin, lived a perfect, sinless life, and “gave Himself for our sins” that all who believe in Him might receive the grace of God that brings peace and life eternal. My friend, are you living by God’s grace for you? Do you have the peace with God? Will those who encounter you today, hear the Spirit say “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.” It is the “will of God and our Father” to tell the Good News of His love wherever we go. Father, thank You for Your love and the grace to know Your peace. Help me to walk in Your grace and share Your peace with others. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.