Grace. Peace. Mercy.
The blessing of Grace and Peace were sent by Paul to the churches he writes to. The blessing of Grace, Peace and Mercy were in the letters he wrote to individuals: Timothy and Philemon, young men in their faith, both of whom he loved as sons, though genealogically they were not related. And in his letter to Philemon, his friend. But each letter wherein Paul sent these blessings indicated that the blessings were not from him, but from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
What is it about these three blessings that made it necessary for Paul to include them in his salutations to the churches and these young men. Perhaps it was the very fact that they were all young. Churches sprang up where followers of Christ gathered. And then, as now, where people are gathered, personalities are gathered. Not all of them meshed; some clashed.
Grace contains within its very essence unlimited forgiveness, unconditional love and the ability to withstand attacks, both within and without the Christian Church. Peace beyond understanding requires faith that this peace is possible when more than a handful of people are in the same room together. It is not a lack of noise that is peace. It is the fact that all the noise around you does not affect you adversely, for your peace is not in people, but in Christ Jesus. Mercy extended to each other is an act of compassion on the part of the one extending it. It is also to be received with joy and not with anger.
Charity in its full extent, and by its very nature, is a good thing to have within the church and the home. For remember, the letters being written are to churches and to two homes. Three, actually; for Onesimus was leaving his home with Paul ( to return to Philemon who held his bond) as a slave delivered from slavery to Paul to be a slave in another home. For though he was free in Christ, he was not free from his enslavement. But Paul was asking Philemon to receive Onesimus as a brother, a friend, one who is not to be in bondage any longer. That's mercy. That's grace. That's peace. Sent to Paul to minister to his needs by Philemon, Onesimus in the service Paul received Christ as his Lord and Savior. And with his soul set free, Paul desired to see his earthly bonds also broken. As an act of faith, he sent him back to Philemon, with the full expectation that Onesimus would be received with joy and deliverance.
Where is this in our homes today? Or our churches? We are divided. We are split. We are cut asunder. But not by the Sword of God, by our own tongues, which are sharper than any blade. For the tongue both wounds and kills. Churches break. Homes wreck. If Grace is extended only to families and friends, we are not really Christians at all. We blend with the world. If Peace is not self-evident in our personal life, how can we expect to have it within our churches or our homes? The hand of Mercy has been spat on, stomped on and bitten; more than once or twice, within the walls of the church and the home.
Jealousy is the result of self-pride and self-justification. It raises itself above the many to promote the one. Pride is ugly. It is pride that consumed Lucifer and caused him to be disgraced; his heart was filled with self-glorification and self-edification. When one within the home or the church, sees the blessings bestowed on another, pride offends, but grace glorifies. Grace heals the broken heart; but if the heart refuses to be broken, then Peace and Mercy cannot be extended and all will be lost. The church falters and the home wobbles.
It is not my grace. It is not my peace. It is not my mercy which is extended to you. It is the Grace, Peace and Mercy of God our Father, and of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Divine Grace covers all sins. Divine Peace mends the broken-hearted. Divine Mercy fellowships the wounded souls. Let us bring ourselves back to the altars in our churches and repent of our wickedness of heart and mind to God, seeking His forgiveness for allowing such to invade our churches. Let us raise up altars to God for God's purpose within our homes, that our homes may receive these three blessings once more.
We must tear down the altars of self-gratification within our churches and our homes. You may say no such altar exists within our church or our homes. But you say this in error. For within the church has risen an idol that none did not expect to be there. Self-righteousness declares that one church is greater than another; it declares that one child is above another. A church is a meeting place for followers of Christ, who both come together to bring an offering of worship to God and have prepared their hearts to receive from God by hearing and obeying God's message to them. A family is joined together at the head by God and all children are loved equally by their parents.
This argument was settled by Jesus when the disciples argues about who was the greatest. We need to go back and see how this was settled then and do the same now. What did Jesus say to the disciples when they were arguing amongst themselves about who was greater? Throughout the New Testament, within the New Covenant, we are reminded by Christ, again and again, that we are to treat each other the same. The leader who would lead must first serve others and not himself. None is greater than the other. None is better than the other. All have gifts uniquely qualifying that person to be in that positiion in which they are in within the church and within the home. And each brings his or her gifts and talents into the home or church to which one has been called to minister within.
"Love one another as I have loved you." Self-sacrificing. Meeting others' needs before meeting one's own. All are welcome in the Father's house, especially the children who come looking for Jesus. All are loved and shown love. All are worthy and unworthy. All have sinned and been found unrighteous. But all are welcome. Hospitality at the hands of the church is a fundemental requirement to succeed in growing the church, and or churches, over which one is held accountable for. You cannot grow a church or a home, if love is not in either. Real love. True love. Love that can stand the hard times and withstand the storms of life. Agape love.
And in this agape love, there lives three additional blessings: Grace. Peace. Mercy. From God our Father, and The Lord Jesus Christ. To you.
from your servant in Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and God the Father from Whom all blessings flow,
The blessing of Grace and Peace were sent by Paul to the churches he writes to. The blessing of Grace, Peace and Mercy were in the letters he wrote to individuals: Timothy and Philemon, young men in their faith, both of whom he loved as sons, though genealogically they were not related. And in his letter to Philemon, his friend. But each letter wherein Paul sent these blessings indicated that the blessings were not from him, but from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
What is it about these three blessings that made it necessary for Paul to include them in his salutations to the churches and these young men. Perhaps it was the very fact that they were all young. Churches sprang up where followers of Christ gathered. And then, as now, where people are gathered, personalities are gathered. Not all of them meshed; some clashed.
Grace contains within its very essence unlimited forgiveness, unconditional love and the ability to withstand attacks, both within and without the Christian Church. Peace beyond understanding requires faith that this peace is possible when more than a handful of people are in the same room together. It is not a lack of noise that is peace. It is the fact that all the noise around you does not affect you adversely, for your peace is not in people, but in Christ Jesus. Mercy extended to each other is an act of compassion on the part of the one extending it. It is also to be received with joy and not with anger.
Charity in its full extent, and by its very nature, is a good thing to have within the church and the home. For remember, the letters being written are to churches and to two homes. Three, actually; for Onesimus was leaving his home with Paul ( to return to Philemon who held his bond) as a slave delivered from slavery to Paul to be a slave in another home. For though he was free in Christ, he was not free from his enslavement. But Paul was asking Philemon to receive Onesimus as a brother, a friend, one who is not to be in bondage any longer. That's mercy. That's grace. That's peace. Sent to Paul to minister to his needs by Philemon, Onesimus in the service Paul received Christ as his Lord and Savior. And with his soul set free, Paul desired to see his earthly bonds also broken. As an act of faith, he sent him back to Philemon, with the full expectation that Onesimus would be received with joy and deliverance.
Where is this in our homes today? Or our churches? We are divided. We are split. We are cut asunder. But not by the Sword of God, by our own tongues, which are sharper than any blade. For the tongue both wounds and kills. Churches break. Homes wreck. If Grace is extended only to families and friends, we are not really Christians at all. We blend with the world. If Peace is not self-evident in our personal life, how can we expect to have it within our churches or our homes? The hand of Mercy has been spat on, stomped on and bitten; more than once or twice, within the walls of the church and the home.
Jealousy is the result of self-pride and self-justification. It raises itself above the many to promote the one. Pride is ugly. It is pride that consumed Lucifer and caused him to be disgraced; his heart was filled with self-glorification and self-edification. When one within the home or the church, sees the blessings bestowed on another, pride offends, but grace glorifies. Grace heals the broken heart; but if the heart refuses to be broken, then Peace and Mercy cannot be extended and all will be lost. The church falters and the home wobbles.
It is not my grace. It is not my peace. It is not my mercy which is extended to you. It is the Grace, Peace and Mercy of God our Father, and of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Divine Grace covers all sins. Divine Peace mends the broken-hearted. Divine Mercy fellowships the wounded souls. Let us bring ourselves back to the altars in our churches and repent of our wickedness of heart and mind to God, seeking His forgiveness for allowing such to invade our churches. Let us raise up altars to God for God's purpose within our homes, that our homes may receive these three blessings once more.
We must tear down the altars of self-gratification within our churches and our homes. You may say no such altar exists within our church or our homes. But you say this in error. For within the church has risen an idol that none did not expect to be there. Self-righteousness declares that one church is greater than another; it declares that one child is above another. A church is a meeting place for followers of Christ, who both come together to bring an offering of worship to God and have prepared their hearts to receive from God by hearing and obeying God's message to them. A family is joined together at the head by God and all children are loved equally by their parents.
This argument was settled by Jesus when the disciples argues about who was the greatest. We need to go back and see how this was settled then and do the same now. What did Jesus say to the disciples when they were arguing amongst themselves about who was greater? Throughout the New Testament, within the New Covenant, we are reminded by Christ, again and again, that we are to treat each other the same. The leader who would lead must first serve others and not himself. None is greater than the other. None is better than the other. All have gifts uniquely qualifying that person to be in that positiion in which they are in within the church and within the home. And each brings his or her gifts and talents into the home or church to which one has been called to minister within.
"Love one another as I have loved you." Self-sacrificing. Meeting others' needs before meeting one's own. All are welcome in the Father's house, especially the children who come looking for Jesus. All are loved and shown love. All are worthy and unworthy. All have sinned and been found unrighteous. But all are welcome. Hospitality at the hands of the church is a fundemental requirement to succeed in growing the church, and or churches, over which one is held accountable for. You cannot grow a church or a home, if love is not in either. Real love. True love. Love that can stand the hard times and withstand the storms of life. Agape love.
And in this agape love, there lives three additional blessings: Grace. Peace. Mercy. From God our Father, and The Lord Jesus Christ. To you.
from your servant in Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and God the Father from Whom all blessings flow,
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