Grace & Peace

Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

Colossians 1:2b

We believe that Paul wrote at least thirteen letters in the New Testament. The greetings in those letters vary, but every one of the thirteen extends grace and peace to the church. Why? I’m convinced that Paul does this because grace and peace are two of our most fundamental spiritual needs.

You need God’s grace! You've disobeyed God and broken His commands. That makes you a sinner bound for Hell. Apart from God’s grace (His undeserved favor) you have no hope. But “God so Loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him might not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) God extended His grace to you through His Son Jesus Christ who died on the cross so that you might have access to the forgiveness you didn’t deserve. This grace is yours as a Christian.

And those who believe on Jesus are saved and are ushered into a new and profound peace with God and with our fellow man. Colossians 1:20 & 21 tell us that “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior” but Jesus “made peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”

You see, Jesus died as a propitiation for your sins. That means that He took God’s wrath for your sins on Himself. His death allows you to go from being an enemy of God who was under God's wrath to a son of God who is at peace with the Father. And that same salvation also puts you at peace with your fellow believers, your brothers and sisters in Christ.

So, what we have in these two words, grace and peace, is really a summary of the gospel itself and a representation of our greatest spiritual needs that are met in Christ. And where do we find this grace and peace? Who or what is their ultimate source? Paul tells us that this comes “from God our Father.” 

Sinful man has searched the whole world over and has created countless counterfeits trying to provide the grace and peace that we so desperately need… and every single one of them disappoints. If you try to base your peace on anything else, your life will be full of conflict and striving. If you try to find grace for your failures in any other source, sooner or later, you will be ostracized and condemned. There is no other source of true grace for your sin and true peace for your life than in the salvation that is offered to you by your Heavenly Father. Look to Him alone for grace and peace.

Before You Begin... (W.o.W. Rewind)

Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

John 1:32-34

Certain things in life are prerequisite to the journey ahead. You don't begin a road trip without first checking to make sure you have enough gas in the tank, air in the tires, and oil in the engine. Neither do you start a hiking trip wearing only your PJs and house shoes. It's the same with our Christian walk. Before you begin any undertaking for the Lord you should make sure you have what is necessary.

In today's passage we find Jesus about to embark on His public ministry, but before He begins, one thing is necessary. Jesus gets baptized and at His baptism the Spirit descends on Him like a dove and remains on Him. That last point always escaped my notice, but it is important. You see the Spirit's lighting on Jesus is not merely a sign to identify Him as the Messiah. It is much more than that. The Spirit resting on Him is both a symbol of His kingship (kings in the O.T. were often anointed with oil as a symbol of God's Spirit) and an important empowering preparation for His ministry. This is Jesus' Day of Pentecost. He is being filled with the Spirit and empowered to go out and perform His ministry.

If it was necessary and fitting for Jesus' ministry to begin with a Holy Spirit anointing, then how much more is it necessary for us? Notice that none of the gospels record Jesus having a single convert or performing a single miracle before His anointing with the Spirit. Therefore, we must be careful to remember that we are not called to do anything for God, as though we were capable of accomplishing anything of substance without Him. Rather we are called to do great things with God...good works He has prepared in advance for us to do (Eph. 2:10). 

How does one get the Spirit? The passage says that it is Jesus who baptizes us in the Holy Spirit. Every Christian at their salvation is filled with the Spirit. It is given to all believers to empower and guide them along their journey, but we must learn to walk and minister in it. So before you begin making your own plans today, be sure to ask for God's guidance and blessing through His powerful Spirit.

For further reading...

• Matthew 4:1-11- Several of the gospels follow Jesus' baptism with the Spirit immediately leading him into the desert to face temptation.
• Romans 8- Life through the Spirit.
• I John 4- How to recognize the Spirit of God.

Plead With the King

Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews.

Esther 8:3

Esther’s safety is beyond question at this point. King Xerxes has already put his second in command to death in order to protect her, so she isn’t in danger. And now that Xerxes has made Mordecai his new second in command, I think Mordecai’s safety is certain too. Which raises an interesting question. Will that be enough for Esther? Will she be satisfied with having secured safety for herself and her adoptive father? Is Esther going to forget that her people still have a death sentence hanging over their heads? Or is she going to see this thing through and save the Jews in Persia from the evil plan Haman put in place to kill them all?

Thankfully, Esther saw it through. Notice how strong the language of Esther 8:3 is. Esther “pleaded.” She “fell at the king’s feet.” She “wept!” And she “begged him” to put an end to Haman’s plan. 

In other words, Esther interceded on behalf of her people. Before, Haman had died there was at least some chance that Esther would share in their fate. But now, Esther is certainly free from that danger. Yet, she still selflessly intercedes on their behalf before the king.

How often do you do the same? When was the last time you shed tears over someone else’s plight, their pain, their danger? When was the last time you wept for your brother or sister in Christ? When was the last time you interceded (prayed) on their behalf? When was the last time you fell at the feet of the king and pleaded with Him and begged Him to meet the needs of your brothers and sisters in Christ?

I want to encourage you to think of someone right now who is carrying a burden and commit to pray for them this week.

A Gentle Answer

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. 2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand...

Esther 5:1-2

Esther's people are facing genocide. She herself is having to risk her life to try to save them. And her husband, King Xerxes, has been so negligent in his duties that he has unwittingly approved the plot.

I think Esther has every reason to be angry. She has every reason to be scared. And, since she hasn’t eaten in three days, she has every reason to be in a bad mood. But in the midst of all these valid emotions, Esther has to successfully navigate a dangerous situation full of political intrigue to try to save the lives of her people. Literally, tens of thousands of lives (if not more) will be affected by how Esther handles this situation.

So, how does Esther handle this volatile situation? Did she waltz right up to the king and gave him a piece of her mind? No. She didn’t do that. In fact, Esther didn’t approach the king at all at first. She didn’t even enter into the King’s Hall. Verse 1 says that she stood in the inner court where the king could see her from his throne. And apparently she waited (patiently and humbly) for the king to notice her and hold out his scepter to invite her to come forward and have an audience with him.

And if you read the rest of the story, you'll find that Esther defers making her request until the King has come to two separate banquets that she prepares for him. Why? Why doesn’t she just come right out and ask King Xerxes to save her people?

As I was thinking about this question a certain proverb came to mind. Proverbs 15:1 says, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Esther could have marched up to the King and given him a piece of her mind. She could have approached King Xerxes with harsh words and she probably wouldn’t have gotten very far. But instead, she was wise. Esther and her people were under Haman’s wrath. Now, it wasn’t going to do her much good to appeal to Haman, but if she played her cards right, a gentle answer to the king, just might turn away Haman’s wrath. So, that is what Esther set out to do.

Esther fought genocide with patience, gentleness, shrewdness, and meekness. There is a lesson here for us. So often we make the difficulties and conflicts in our lives worse by how we respond to them. Very rarely do we respond to wrath with a gentle answer. Very rarely are we patient or gentle when we feel that we (or the people we love) have been attacked. But responding with harsh words and impatience and anger… only makes the situation worse. It only pours gasoline on the fire.

Strive to be more like Esther. Strive to have enough faith that God is at work that you don’t have to go off half-cocked. You don’t have to be harsh in your response. Instead, if you will be gentle, wise, shrewd, and patient… more often than not, it will lead to a better outcome.