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.