Gifts To Share

Over and over again in God’s Word we have see words like, “Grace and peace,” or “Grace, mercy, and peace.”  And I love this one: 

Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love. 2 John 1:3

What is grace?  Here’s someone’s definition that I like:  Grace is the love and mercy given to us by God because God desires us to have it, not necessarily because of anything we have done to earn it

We could all do with a few doses of love and mercy given to us – not because we necessarily deserve it or have done anything to earn it – but simply because the person – in this case, God, wants us to have something good and lovely and life giving.

How are we approaching others with grace and peace – those we know well, those who we hardly know; or even those people that bring out the worst in us? Are we doing all we can, in God’s power to offer them love and mercy simply because we want them to have something good today?

I wish I could say that I was doing that, but I can’t.  Oh there are people that I would gladly do that for at any time on any day of the week.  Then there are others I’d just like to avoid, not think about, not really have much to do with.  And I wonder, how much of God’s grace and peace am I squandering by my own small mindedness?

You know, it’s not even something I have to feel for the person. I just have been gifted by God, as Saint Paul was, with grace and peace FROM God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. God loves these folks and wants to bless them.  Will I pass it on to them in His name?  That’s all we’re asked to do. 

Loving God, thank you for how generously You have given grace and peace to us.  It really didn’t matter to You if we were doing all that great that day or not – just that we turned to You and wanted to know You were with us and were caring for us. How many many times has Your love quieted our hearts in the middle of stress and aggravation and given us peace. We’re so grateful.

Today Lord help us , in our turn, to give generous measures of grace, and mercy, and peace as we listen to Your heart for people and remember the amazing price Jesus paid for people when He died for them on the cross.  Use us today, Lord, to give clear witness to Your heart of grace and peace offered to anyone today who will receive. Amen

Well, what an amazing day we can have today if we will keep our eyes on the gifts of grace, mercy, and peace given to us by God and then pass them along to others.