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. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College