If Paul in the New Testament letters started all his letters to his kingdom family with the words “Grace and peace to you,” why is it all we can manage is a “hi”?  Do our friends and family (in the sense of both our blood and Christ’s blood) mean so much less than Paul’s family did to him?  I think not.

 Perhaps we have less understanding of the meaning of these words.  Grace is a free gift of God that comes in conjunction with mercy.  If mercy forgives our sins, grace gives us the power to enact that change of heart in our very lives.  Do you want some change in you life?  Does this gift of God sound like a good deal to you?  Then take it with joy.  Then take it one more step further up and further in:

Try sharing it with others.  Tell someone “Grace and peace to you” when you meet them.  See what happens.  Go on.  Take the challenge.  If grace and peace is in you, then it’s time to share.  If you are still working on grace and peace (and who frankly isn’t?), then giving it away, like love, makes it more real for you. 

 To all of you who share a love of and in Christ who join our community here at KOGF:

GRACE AND PEACE TO YOU NOW AND ALWAYS