Grace and Peace   Scripture Reading – 1 Corinthians 1:3 (NLT)

"May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace."  

We will note that in each of the epistles or letters to the churches in the New Testament that the writer would give by way of both prayer and greeting the admonition that the hearers would receive and dispense both, 'Grace and Peace'.

This is not at all by mistake, and must never be an oversight on our part in the reading of God's word, for this prayer is perhaps what was most needed then, and is also most needed today in our modern world in 2017 in order to really reach people with the message of Jesus Christ our risen Lord and Savior.

Grace has been described as: God's unmerited favor. Something that we can never do anything at all to deserve. I like the Sunday School definition that describes it in the word form as: God's Riches At Christ's Expense, therefore no one may ever boast about anything save Jesus Christ.

Peace is what Jesus Christ promised that He would give us as we come to Him in believing faith. And He gives not as the world gives which is based upon circumstances, but rather He gives positionally based upon Himself and His finished work on the cross in the Person and power of the Holy Spirit living within each one of us. As people who live in this experience we then become peacemakers, who will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.

Besides these two words grace and peace, there is one other that is also occasionally included - it is mercy. Concerning mercy, we are to be those who love it, not only in our own lives, but especially when it is poured out on others. May these things be ours in abundance today: grace, peace and mercy with the greatest of all being….love, I pray for the glory of Jesus our Lord.  

Prayer Father today I rejoice in Your grace, mercy and peace that are abundantly mine through Jesus Christ my Lord. Make my life a reflection of these along with love to others I pray for the glory of Jesus Christ my living and loving Lord.  

Memory Verse:  Philippians 2:5 “_____ must _____ the _____ __________ that Christ Jesus had.”