Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Have you ever noticed that Paul begins and ends every one of his epistles with a word of benediction? As he greets the churches and individuals to whom he writes, and as he composes words of farewell, he pronounces a blessing from the Lord upon them. Most commonly, he speaks of grace and peace. Each of these is at the very core of the Christian faith, both for churches and individuals. Our God is full of grace--the unmerited favor He bestows on us by His Spirit through Jesus Christ our Lord. Grace is to the lives of believers what water is to a desert. Without it, only barrenness and emptiness result, but by grace, faith flourishes. Our Lord is also a God of peace. Our Savior taught us that peacemakers are blessed people, and they will be called sons of God. He has reconciled us so that while we were once enemies, we are now beloved member of His family.
