Benedictions

Have you ever noticed how often we exhort one another to do this or do that? We are forever giving advice, weighing in on a subject, commanding or chastising, correcting or cautioning.

So I got to thinking about this al0t because I have discovered over the past 6 decades that most of the time people don't care what you think. They really aren't interested in corrections rather they want someone to agree with them, confirm a behaviour or pat them on the back.

Considering what a thorn in the flesh I have been to many people in my life I am trying hard to "aspire to live quietly, work diligently with my hands and to mind my own business!" It's not that easy, of course. So since I believe that Scriptures have the absolute answer for every dilemma I thought I would take a look at how the apostle Paul addressed folks. If anyone had a right to speak, to chastise etc. etc., I guess it was the apostle Paul. But I was particularly touched and humbled and encouraged as I looked through his various letters. They are full of imperatives for successful Christian living, but that is just part of it. They are seasoned with wonderful benedictions and the fact that he repeated them in most of his letters seems to imply that they are important.

Following is brief list:

Romans 1:7b - Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I Cor. 1:3 - Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I Cor. 16:23-24 - The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.
II Cor. 1:2 - Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
II Cor. 13:14 - The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Galatians 1:3 - Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph. 1:2 - Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Phil. 1:2 - Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Col. 1:2b - Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
I Thess. 1:1c - Grace to you and peace.
II Thess. 3:16 - Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way.
I Timothy 1:2b - Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
II Timothy 1:2 - Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

When you read them all together it leaves an impression that maybe Paul thought that grace, mercy and peace were really important.

Clearly they are and by God's grace, I want to exude grace, mercy and peace. It is what I want to pour out on others. Let someone else do the admonishing; I'm not that good at it anyway.

So grace, mercy and peace to you from our dear Lord Jesus.

Who is this?

Who can this be?

A young, slim, blonde (?) woman with a gorgeous red-headed child.

It was the 70s and I was young. Aimee was about the cutest, sweetest, most precious blessing I would ever see in this world. And so it is.

How I Ought to Act

Frankly, what I know to do I often don't do and what I know I ought not do I do. Not very original thought and certainly no revelation to anyone who has read Paul's letters. Makes the rejoice mandate a bit difficult at times. But God's sweet and holy Word gives us plenty of 'to dos' so that we will learn to do and to be what He has planned for us to do and be since before the foundations of the world.

What I ought to do:

• pursue love (ICor. 14:1a)~ the word 'pursue' implies that I am going to have to work at this and it is going to be a footrace requiring huffing, puffing and determination; I don't really like the thought of that as it really leaves no room for sloth! Precious Lord Jesus, give me strength and endurance to pursue the better thing.
• not be childish in my thinking (that's a lot different than being child-like!) and I am to be an infant in evil, but mature in my thinking (I Cor. 14:20) ~ it's not that easy to be an infant in evil in our current culture, actually in any culture; for those who think we are more evil than any preceeding generation, century, millenium etc. then you have not read enough history! I want to be an infant in evil, but that must be a work of God as I have dabbled way too much in evil thoughts, actions, study, companions etc. to return to an infant way of thinking about evil. Please, Lord Jesus, have your way.
• be steadfast, immovable, ALWAYS abounding in the work of the Lord (I Cor. 15:58) ~ I can be so stubborn (the sin side of steadfast!) when I want to be; I mean really, really stubborn. So why is steadfastness such a struggle about things that really matter. Most of what I have been opinionated about, and I might add, hurt others' feelings over, isn't worth the price of ink in a cheap ballpoint pen. I beg you, dear Lord Jesus, make me steadfast about worthy things.
• take every thought captive to OBEY Christ (2 Cor. 10:5) ~ Every thought? I can only imagine how much work this will be. My mind is constantly working, thinking, mulling, answering, cogitating and pondering. This must, too, be a work of God in a believer's life. My sweet gentle Shepherd, set a guard at my lips and watch over my mouth.
• Rejoice, aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace (2 Cor.13:11a) Well, now there's a life-long pursuit. I am learning to rejoice often and to see even in pain that it is possible to rejoice. I have found it easier and easier to comfort others as I have experienced more and more pain, loss, betrayal, and sorrow. I think that's probably God's good plan for me. I don't always like it and I have been known to kick and scream, plead and beg, bargain and threaten to quit. Yet God's mercies are new every morning. I want more than almost anything to live in peace. I grew up without much peace, some of my own doing, and the older I get the more pleasant and inviting is the quest for peace. I have even begun to firmly avoid the contentious (I used to love a good verbal sparring!) and to seek rather a meek and gentle spirit (never been a natural part of my makeup). I want to aim for restoration and to be able to agree, living in peace with all, as much as lies within me. Dear faithful Bread of Life, hear me as I plead for these good gifts from your generous Hand.
• rejoice in the lord (Phil 3:1) and rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice (Phil. 4:4) If this ol' whining, complaining, belly-aching mortal can learn to rejoice (and I do it often these days) then it must be the work of our wonderful Lord Jesus through His benevolent Holy Spirit; it is definitely not a part of my nature!

So.....there's an assignment for life. And it's only the beginning. The list could, of course, go on and on. Since we are no longer under the law and since Christ perfectly fulfilled the law so that we now operate under grace, we can be confident that He who began a good work in us will surely complete it. And if that isn't exciting enough, we can now openly, boldly and with confidence enter the throne room and speak directly with our dear Lord Jesus. Think of it...directly...no intermdiary necessary...Jesus is the intermediary and He welcomes us without shame or humiliation.

Now that's something to rejoice about.