Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, (Revelation 1.4b)
Grace. Peace. Eternity. Do we have any hope of ever understanding these words, these overloaded ideas and concepts? Grace. God’s grace at the heart of Jesus’ good news is more than just the charming favor of one person to another. It is more than the generosity of spirit of one injured toward another. It is more than simple acts of undeserved mercy toward others. It is more than the meager lovingkindness sourced in the human heart. Peace. Genuine, lasting peace is beyond humanity that all the hopes of cloak wearing politicians and altruistic advocates. True peace can only find its foundation and sustainability in God’s divine power and love.
In the tumult and harshness of this fallen world is it any wonder the Apostles prayed for grace and peace in the lives of the redeemed men, women and children? Humanity cannot help itself. Our attempts of grace and peace are fleeting, shortsighted and, far too often, secretly self-serving. In the burned out, brittle and war-torn world, the Apostles prayed for God’s grace and peace over the lives of those scarred by persecution and targeted by hate.
The source of grace and peace was Jesus Christ. John watched grace flow from His life and peace from His ministry. The source of grace and peace is Jesus Christ. Two millennia after John penned the revelation of Jesus on the island of Patmos, divine grace and peace are still found exclusively in Jesus Christ. The source of grace and peace will forever be Jesus Christ. Jesus is unwaveringly consistent and on that everlasting truth, let us build our lives.
Jesus, you are the everlasting source of grace and peace for all who set their eyes on you. Thank you for speaking grace and peace into mine.