1 Thessalonians 1:1b “…Grace to you and peace.”

As I read this common greeting given by Paul in most of his letters, it dawns on me how full of power that is. I am finally learning what Paul long knew about Grace and Peace.

I used to tell God that I did not want to take His grace for granted. Now that was a correct desire as far as not wanting to sin, thinking that God’s grace would cover me, so it would be okay to choose sin. But I am learning that God wants us to walk in His grace as I am now learning is the work of grace in us.

God led me to realize my need of His sanctification in the area of my diet. Being sanctified, set apart to God in that area, requires me to learn to walk in the grace Paul speaks of in 2 Corinthians 12:

“7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG.”

God’s grace imparts true and lasting strength and, through my diet, surrendered to His grace, I am learning just how strong and FREEING His grace is in me. Praise the Lord!

God’s mercy frees us from sins penalty: death – separation from God. His grace cleanses us of that sin, removing it from us, and replaces it with His strength in the area of need, filling up the vacuum of space left there.

Remember when Jesus said to cleanse a house, only to leave it empty, opens up a place in which the evil removed can not only return to possess the place anew, but it can bring seven others, more evil than it, to help him hold his place (Luke 11:24-26). Grace cleanses us, removing the evil tendency, but it also fills us with His Spirit of Strength to hold the house, and maintain the cleansing. We need God’s strength if we are to stand against the temptations of this life. The way of escape from temptation is this GRACE (1 Corinthians 10:13). We can do nothing apart from Him, so this grace is vital to our successful journey to the righteousness of Christ that sanctifies us.

When we are walking in this grace of God that strengthens our commitment to His Lordship, true peace fills us. The agitation of our want for something that is not His will for us is overridden by this peace gifted to us through Christ. It is much easier to “Be still and Know that He is God” when peace acts as umpire (Colossians 3:15, AMPC). That said, I see Paul’s greeting of “grace to you and peace” as his desire of heart for this work of the Spirit in the people of God.

Here am I, O God. I rejoice in this lesson, learned and growing strong in me. Thank You for Your grace sufficient that produces Your peace of heart, bringing about true freedom from the flesh in me. In Jesus, Amen!