I was able to excavate a beautiful application from the end of verse 2. Peter greets the readers of his letter this way, "Grace and peace be yours in abundance." Isn't that beautiful? Don't we all desire the grace and peace of God in abundance?
The original word translated 'grace' here means to rejoice, it denotes that which causes joy and pleasure, that which creates delight in the recipient or observer. Peter is sprinkling his readers with the grace of God which causes the receiver joy and delight. God's grace sprinkled on others even brings delight to the one passing it on! So Peter would have had pleasure in their receiving of the grace. Do you see that when we pass on God's grace to others, it is so rich and delightful, that we ourselves will be delighted by it!
Now the word translated 'peace' here is eirene and it means tranquility, calm, harmony; it denotes a state of untroubles, undisturbed, well-being. Are we women who carry our troubles on our sleeve? Quick to complain and share our 'woe is me' with anyone willing to pause long enough to get sucked in? Peter is passing on, not only the grace of God, but His peace. God is NOT a complainer, nor should we be, when we are His daughters.
But God spoke an even more specific application to my heart as I pondered what He was saying here through Peter...Am I greeting those I love with the same grace and peace that Peter used to greet the early church family? Am I greeting my children or my husband in the evening with complaints, short-temper and discontentment? Or have I spent time in prayer before my husband arrives home in order to greet him with God's grace and peace?
When my children walk in a room, is my heart joyful and delighted? What does my face and body language demonstrate? As I pondered these moments of my day, I asked the Lord to cause me to be a woman of God's grace and peace; that those He places around me...starting with my own family, would be blessed and even joyful to have been greeted by me. Let's ask Him to so fill us with His grace and peace that we spend the day splashing others with it!
8 comments:
Oh, Mariel. How I have missed these word studies!
This gives me food for thought as well. Greeting others with grace and peace is something I don't consider...
Need to start doing so.
Sending hugs,
laura
I like this application. It's a good thing to think about and strive for!
LOVE this. Reminds me of my early days reading Elizabeth George and trying so hard to live out my new found faith. Thanks friend for the reminder today!
A timely reminder for me, my friend. I am incredibly graced by my Lord and so I should naturally overflow with that same grace.
I think at home is where it is most difficult to do that. Home is where we live--where we let it all hang out--and it is not always pretty hanging out. I need to remember this post and make certain that what is hanging out is evidencing the presence of Christ in my life.
Love ya,
Leah
Thank you for the reminder that Grace and Peace is found in abundance in Christ Jesus and the exhortation to "splash" it on those around me.
I didn't do that so well yesterday. It was a Monday on Tuesday if you know what I mean. This post drives me to the feet of my Lord!
Mariel!! I have found your blog! I have been thinking about you so much lately and wondering about where your blog is in blog land! I found it! Yeah!
We have a blog as well - made up of stories about our family and Biblical lessons. It is www.ourdaysofgrace.blogspot.com.
Hope you are all doing well -- Jamie
jamie, so good to hear from you! hope you all are well! glad you found me...off to see how you are,too!
hugs to you, girl! ~m
Oh Mariel, sometimes I have the hardest time exhibiting God's grace and peace. Thank you for this post. I have been lavished with His grace and love and I must do the same.
Thank you for the reminder.
Have a blessed day,
Cindy
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