Category: 1 Corinthians

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:3).

Paul begins each of his epistles with these words.

And always in this order.  

Grace and Peace

Go ahead and check for yourself.  I’ll wait…

…

…

See what I mean?

Grace comes first, because without grace there can be no peace.

No peace with God

No peace with family

No peace in your own heart

None of it happens without the grace of God.  And why would it?  Without grace, you are judged solely on your own merit.

And you know how far that gets you.

Nope, peace is not something you can earn or deserve or accomplish.

Only receive.

You can’t get there, but you can be there.

Oh, of course you know all that already, you being so spiritual and all.

But Paul seems to think it’s worth the reminder, and who am I to argue?

Walk in grace, Beloved.  And know peace.

Happy Thursday

To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ–their Lord and ours:  (1 Corinthians 1:2)

That’s you.

That’s me.

That’s us.

Oh, I know that Paul wrote to a specific group of people, and I know that you and I weren’t even twinkles in the eye at the time this was penned.

But 

It’s still to us.

We are the Church–God’s people here on the earth.

We are the sanctified, cleansed by the blood of Christ and set apart from this world for God’s purpose.

We are the ones called to be holy.

We are those who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

As you begin your day, remember who you are.  Square your shoulders, lift your head high, and walk into this day as a Child of Almighty God.

In…you know…utter humility.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved