Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sat, 1 Nov 2008 16:34:34 -0500
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Nov. 2); BP: I Cor. 1:1-9; RBTTY: Titus 3; Jer. 27-29
November 2 “Grace and Peace”
I Corinthians 1:3
Where you find one, you’ll also find the other.
Grace and peace.
Although we talk much of these gifts from God (Gal. 5:22a), so often we fail to realize their real significance in our lives. Yet, it’s quite evident that the Apostle Paul knew well of their impact—for not a single one the greetings in his 14 epistles fails to include this “consecrated combo.”
Why is that?
Simply because this former persecutor of “the church of God” (I Cor. 15:9) knew it was God’s Grace. . .that love which cannot be earned. . .that had moved him from darkness into life and commissioned him to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles (v.10). And, later on he’d realize a new depths of this Grace when his troubling “thorn in the flesh” was not removed, even though he’d repeatedly asked the Lord to take it away (II Cor. 12:7-10).
What is this grace to us, Pilgrim? Is it operational in our lives each day?
Again, grace is that permeating love from God’s own heart that captivates, captures and consumes us. Like Noah, we look around us and grow distressed—or, we look inward and grow depressed. But, it’s when we look up “into the eyes of God” (Gen. 6:8) that we find an all-encompassing Love like we’ve never known before.
A Love that is “steadfast and sure” (Heb. 6:19). A Love that “will never leave us nor forsake us” (Heb. 13:5b). A Love that knows everything about us, but still loves us just the same (Jn. 4:1-29). Glory!!
That’s why we shouldn’t be surprised that inherent within this Love is the Lord’s “indescribable Peace” (Phil. 4:7)—for the Two always travel together. Hallelujah! His condescending Love. . .reaching down from Heaven to the lowest depths of our being. . . fills us with assurance and hope the world knows nothing of (Jn. 14:27).
Peace. His Peace. Not the absence of or escape from our problems, but His Presence and Promises in the midst of them. His comforting words of “Lo, I am with you always” right when we’re tempted to hit the panic button.
Instead of quoting the much-used adage “There’s nothing I’m going to face today that God and I can’t handle,” we’d do better to say “There’s nothing I’m going to face today that God can’t handle”—for it is His Grace that sustains us and His pervading Peace that calms us when nothing or no one else can.
So, how are you doing today, Pilgrim? Peaceful? Or perturbed? Resting? Or restless? Thankful? Or tormented? Why not stop right now and meditate upon His Grace and see if His Peace doesn’t also fill your heart and mind?
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