“To Will my true son in the faith: GRACE, MERCY and PEACE from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” (1 Timothy 1:2) As I read this verse this inspiration came to me Will about how I feel ministering to you, like a father in the faith, so pardon my liberty in expressing it this way.
I would like to look at these three topics if you don’t mind:
- GRACE: Probable the most common definition for grace is “THE UNMERITED FAVOR OF GOD” I love the way Paul expresses what grace means to him. “Therefore, my dear friends…work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who WORKS IN YOU to WILL and to DO for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13) The New Living Translation (NLT) “God is working in you, giving you the DESIRE and the POWER to do what pleases HIM.” This means the most to me Will because I know that it’s much easier for me to do God’s will when He gives me the desire to want to do it and then releases in me the power to accomplish it. So, we need to pray for God to give us THE DESIRE AND THE POWER TO DO HIS WILL…
- MERCY: eleos: kindness towards and a desire to help, the suffering. One well known scripture that speaks of mercy, “MERCY AND TRUTH HAVE MET TOGETHER; Righteousness and peace have kissed.” (Psalms 85:9-10)
The Psalmist, writing in the times immediately after the return from the Exile, in strong faith sees before him a vision of a perfectly harmonious co-operation and relation between GOD AND MAN. “mercy and truth have met together” Means that these two qualities are found entwined and always linked together in all that God does with mankind; that these two sources are the twin fountains from which the great stream of the “river of the water of life”, flows to us.
- PEACE: According to the Bible, the peace of God, “which transcends all understanding,” is the harmony and calmness of body, mind, and spirit trusting in the power and grace of God. “…the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will GUARD your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7) Nearly all of the letters of Paul start with the phrase “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”The peace of God can be described as a tranquil state of appreciation and faith when we SUBMIT TO and TRUST THE COMMANDMENTS of God and Christ. Now wait, did Christ give us a commandment as well? “A NEW COMMANDMENT I give to you, that you LOVE ONE ANOTHER; AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, that you also love one another. By this ALL WILL KNOW that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
So, just how do we get this peace? “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8) “…let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith…” (Hebrews 10:22) “God blesses those who OBEY Him; happy the man who puts his TRUST in the Lord.” (Psalms 22:4)
Bless you Will, as you continue to grow in the Lord,
-Bill Stockham