Abundant Grace & Peace To You

Dear Saints,

Looking for Grace and Peace?

 

Everyone in the whole world is looking for peace. There is so much unrest through natural disasters, shootings, hatred, and greed manifested in wars such as Russia/Ukraine, Sudan, mob violence by young people in the streets of Chicago/Los Angeles, and corrupt politicians stealing from the people impoverishing millions.

 

There's enough to rob us of peace, including broken relationships, family crises, financial problems, deaths, sickness, etc.

 

If you want peace, go to the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.

 

The lack of peace and its solution has existed since the world began. As we continue our 2 Peter studies, Apostle Peter speaking to his persecuted/suffering audience reminds/greets/prays for them as follows:

 

"Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord." 2 Peter 1:2. "In abundance?" Did you hear that?

 

You cannot buy both grace and peace. You can only receive grace and peace as a gift. You would have to know grace and peace to experience it. You would have to know God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

 

This is how apostle John introduced Jesus: "14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14.

 

Jesus is full of grace and truth because He's the ultimate truth that will set us free and grant us grace and peace. Without grace, you will never experience peace. Watch how in the greetings of apostles Paul and Peter, grace precedes peace. And what is grace?

 

"Grace, in Christian theology, the spontaneous, unmerited gift of the divine favour in the salvation of sinners, and the divine influence operating in individuals for their regeneration and sanctification."- Britannica.com. Simply, grace is God’s favor. You cannot earn grace; if you do, it is no longer grace but wages/paycheck. "The wages of sin is death." Sin earns death. Grace is free and gives life forever through Jesus Christ.

 

Can you see why grace precedes peace? Grace requires total and complete trust and faith in the goodness of the giver, God. And even the faith is still a gift. Apostle Peter makes it very clear that grace and peace come "in abundance through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord."

 

When we know this truth and resolve in our hearts that there's no other source of peace, then we experience the peace which is described as: freedom from disturbances, tranquility. Peace is further defined as follows:

 

"Galatians 5:22-23). Peace is knowing that the Lord of the universe is by your side and resting in that. It's not just knowing, but it is also living it out. Peace is sitting in comfort and knowing that God is next to your side no matter what." - GCU.edu.

 

Peace is a person, God the Son, the Prince of Peace. Jesus is with you if you know Him and have trusted and believed in Him.

 

Watch a baby next to the mother. Once the mother leaves, the baby's countenance changes, and soon the baby starts crying. The baby's peace is the presence of the mother.

 

Are you disturbed right now? It means you are not thinking and being conscious of God that is next to you and in you. He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

 

Jesus, God the Son said, "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you." John 14:16-17

 

The early church experienced peace: "So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase." Acts 9:31.

 

We must all be babies and children to inherit and enjoy God's kingdom, His presence and His peace.

 

Your peace is not in the disappearing of your problems but in recognition of the presence of God amid your problems. I am speaking to myself. Lord, please help me know and see you every minute, even in my troubles. Amen.

 

Grace and peace be multiplied to you today and forever. May God's grace and peace be sufficient for you today in all your circumstances. Amen.

 

The world doesn't know this Prince of Peace. Help someone today and point them to Jesus Christ. I didn't say to point them to your church but to Jesus Christ, and He will fill them with His Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? Receive Him right now. Pray, Jesus, please baptize me and fill me with your Holy Spirit. May the Holy Spirit have total control of you and me as we surrender to His will  and obey His voice always.  Amen.