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"Grace and peace be yours." —1 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul almost always began his letters by wishing the churches "grace and peace." Grace is the presence and power of God. We need grace because we cannot live for Christ by our natural power. We need God's supernatural power. We accept grace because we have faith in the God of grace, because we have a personal relationship with Him.
Peace in the Bible is not what our culture means by peace. Many people consider peace to be a sense of contentment and security. The Bible's meaning for peace is based on the Hebrew "shalom." Shalom means order and harmony. Shalom-peace means that everything is in its proper place. The Lord masterfully made this world with a physical, psychological, social, and spiritual ecology. When everything is in its proper place, we have paradise; we have shalom-peace. Shalom implies repentance for our sins and the submission of our lives and lifestyles to God's authority. Of course, this can only be done by grace.
"Grace and peace be yours" (1 Thes 1:1).
Prayer: Father, bless my life with shalom-peace so that my lifestyle may be a living witness to Your grace.
Promise: "Give to the Lord, you families of nations, give to the Lord glory and praise; give to the Lord the glory due His name!" —Ps 96:7-8
Praise: "Great is the Lord and highly to be praised!" (Ps 96:4) Amen! We adore You, risen Lord Jesus.
Reference: (Accept more grace from the God of peace daily by reading the Bible daily. We have several tape series to help you. Overview of the Bible is six audio tapes starting with AV 10A-1 or three video tapes starting with V-10A. 15-minute Bible Teaching - New Testament is forty audio tapes starting with #700. An Introduction to each Book of the Bible is 32 audio tapes starting with AV 21-1 or 17 video tapes starting with V-21.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Bishop-Elect, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 26, 2011 (for 10-1-2011 through 11-29-2011) and May 26, 2011 (for 11-30-2011)
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