Paul the apostle cared for
the Thessalonian church and was inspired by the Lord to write not
only one letter to them, but also a second one. In the beginning of
this second letter Paul introduced himself and his companions, and in
verse two of chapter one, Paul wishes upon the church members “grace
and peace” where we read:
Grace unto you, and
peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The
verse begins, “Grace unto you, and peace,...” Paul
began with the word, “Grace”
which in Greek is the word “charis” and means “ that which
affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm and loveliness”.
It refers to the “unmerited favor” of God. Paul continued, “unto
you” which refers to the
Thessalonian church members “and peace”
which is the Hebrew word “shalom” and the Greek word “eirene”
and means “a state of tranquility, harmony, concord, security,
safety, prosperity and felicity”. These two words were typical
Pauline greetings in his letters. It should be noted that “grace”
is mentioned first, and a person cannot really know the
“peace” of God before he or
she knows the “grace”
of God.
The
verse goes on to say, “...from God our Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul
continued, “from God”
which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity comprised of God
the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “our
Father” which means
“generator, originator and transmitter of anything” “and
the Lord” or “he to whom a
person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master
and the title given to God, the Messiah” “Jesus”
whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and who is “the Savior
of mankind and God incarnate” “Christ” which
means “the anointed one” and refers to “the Messiah and Son of
God”. There are no greater names in which Paul could have greeted
the Thessalonians.
When
we consider Paul's words, we may have a tendency to glance over them
without much thought. However, how often do we “greet” others in
such a wonderful fashion? To desire the “grace and peace
from God and the Lord Jesus Christ” for
others cannot be improved upon unless we consider the pastoral
epistles where Paul desired “mercy”
upon them as well. The “grace”
or “unmerited favor” of Jesus Christ is one of the greatest gifts
a person will ever receive, and to live in “peace” is
the greatest way to conduct one's life. Perhaps as we think through
this marvelous greeting, we will experience once again the benefit of
receiving “grace from God”
and enjoy the “peace”
which comes from “relying upon, trusting in, and clinging to” His
Son Jesus Christ.
Next
time Paul tells the Thessalonians he is “bound”
to them, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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