Christian Living

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Whenever I think about the Grace of God, I reach a point of ecstatic energy. I find my spirit over riding my mind with waves of God consciousness. How could God, who was before all existence, love me enough to be personally involved in my life? As I try to grasp the unattainable reality of His Grace, I am suddenly overcome with a peace that passes all understanding. Recovering from basking in the reality of His Grace and settling into His peace, I come across Peter’s letters to the Believers of Asia Minor in which he says, “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you…” (I Peter 1: 2, II Peter 1:3) To just dwell on the basic truth of God’s Grace is overwhelming enough, but to think of multiplying that Grace is to tax one's mind beyond its capacity to fully understand. It is like recovering from a Tsunami, only to experience more and greater “waves” of Truth! O the wonder of it all! I want to cry out as David did, “What is man, that thou art mindful of him?” (Psalm 8:4)

All of the New Testament letters, with the exception of First and Third John, contain the bestowed blessing of Grace and Peace to the reader. One would readily come to understand why these words would precede the intent of many of these Epistles, for without God’s Grace, no one would be where they were spiritually. Today, we are the result of God’s Grace. If it was not for His Grace, we would be simply a number in the maze of humanity riding the waves of life into a purposeless existence. The world is coming apart. Things are happening today that, a decade ago, our fantasies could not have imagined. Many lift up their hands in despair and token surrender to the tide of human depravity. Negativity and pessimism flow unabated from even the mouths of confessed Believers. As we witness the chaos around us, we quickly glance Heavenward, hoping to see the clouds part and Jesus returning for His people.

The early Church faced many problems and challenges. As Paul, Peter, James, Jude, and John sent out their letters, they always prefaced their messages with acknowledging the Grace and Peace of God. No matter if their writings were corrective or informative in nature, the Grace of God would always be front and center. We must never allow anything to minimize that truth. God has made the greatest investment in all of living history: sending His Son to pay the price for man’s disobedience. Someone said that God’s Grace is defined as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Because of God’s Grace, we have God’s peace that He is in control. I don’t care how bad it gets; I have the peace that passes all understanding. My eyes may see one thing, but my faith sees something different. It is not a question of how bad things are; rather, how good God is!

Positivism and optimism should flow out of our mouths as rivers of refreshment to those who are discouraged and spiritually parched due to their dwelling on the negative aspects of life. I am shocked at how many Believers hit the social media with adopted rhetoric they have heard from other biased individuals. If a Believer is addicted to the Internet, he should at least promote building materials that will build up instead of tear down! Instead of quoting what the media has to say about political and social events, let the Believer begin to quote the promises of God’s Word.

Peter reminds his readers that they have been given “exceeding great and precious promises…” and as a result have become partakers of God’s Divine nature. (II Peter 1:4) Let us dwell on the promises of God, and let anything contrary to His Word deflect off our “Shields of Faith.”

May God’s Grace and Peace be multiplied unto YOU!

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