Verse of the Day 7/29

Through the Bible - Psalms 59-61, Romans 2

 

Good morning,

I received an e-mail yesterday from a pastor friend yesterday.  He close the note with "wishing you grace and peace".  It is the same way that the Apostle Paul greeted his readers in his letters.

For today's verse we'll go to Romans 1 from yesterday's reading for one of these greetings.

Romans 1:7 (Amplified Bible) To [you then] all God's beloved ones in Rome, called to be saints and designated for a consecrated life: Grace and spiritual blessing and peace be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yesterday, we considered reconciliation, how it is accomplished and what it means to us.

 

New Testament commentator James Dunn writes, " The greeting itself is a beautiful blend of Greek and Hebrew tradition (Rom. 1: 7). The Greek word 'grace' (charis), very similar to the more typical

Greek greeting (chairein), sums up the character of God's dealings with his human creatures, as motivated by and expressive of God's generosity from start to finish. And 'peace' (shalom) is the traditional Jewish greeting, where the thought is not simply of peace of mind but of general well-being. Paul's wish for these Roman Gentiles is that they should experience the richness of the peace cherished by Israel combined with the grace so fully manifested in Jesus."

 

While driving yesterday, I listened to a message from James MacDonald on the radio.  In it, he said that "grace is more than God's unmerited favor, but also the capacity to do anything spiritually profitable."

 

Think about that for a moment.  If we are to do anything that is "spiritually profitable" it is only as a result of God's grace, like faith, it is not of ourselves but the gift of God.

MacDonald also quoted 2 Cor 12:9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."  He also said that it could. perhaps should be better translated "sufficient for you is the grace of me."
NKJV

I thought of the Beatles song "All You Need is Love".  That may be true as long as that love includes and is through God's grace.

 

As you go about your day today take some time to think about what God has done for you in the reconciliation process.  Have you felt His grace and experienced His peace?

 

Peace is more than the absence of conflict.  For true peace, the enmity is gone.  It is something that is possible through grace, God's grace, grace that is greater than all my sin.

 

Grace and Peace to you,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV
Rom 1:1-8

 

1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God  2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;

 

7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:

 

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.   NKJV