Sunday Thought

 

A young man named Saul was bent on eliminating Christianity from the face of the earth. He was a Pharisee (well-versed in the Hebrew Scriptures; the Old Testament),a man of knowledge, with hurtful letters, and a destructive spirit.

Then Jesus directly intervened in his life. He was shown grace and mercy, which Saul, now Paul, would write:


“…But God’s grace has made me what I am, and his grace to me was not wasted…”


Philip Yancey explains in his popular book What’s So Amazing About Grace?, “Knocked flat on the ground on the way to Damascus, Paul never recovered from the impact of grace: the word appears no later than the second sentence (punctuation matters) in every one of his letters.” Really. Check it out for yourself…


Romans: verse 7 to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called saints; Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ!


First Corinthians: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

4 I give thanks to my God always concerning you for the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus


Second Corinthians:   2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!


Galatians: 3 Grace to you, and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ,


Ephesians: 2 Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!


Philippians: 2 Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.


Colossians: 2 to the saints in Colossae, and to the faithful brethren in Christ: Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!


First Thessalonians: 1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, to the assembly of Thessalonians in God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ! 


Second Thessalonians: 2 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!


First Timothy: 2 to Timotheus -- genuine child in faith: Grace, kindness, peace, from God our Father, and Christ Jesus our Lord,


Second Timothy: 2 to Timotheus, beloved child: Grace, kindness, peace, from God the Father, and Christ Jesus our Lord!


Titus: 4 to Titus -- true child according to a common faith: Grace, kindness, peace, from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour!


Philemon: 3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus 


Friends — Infuse your life with an intentional greeting, with a hello filled with grace and a kind smile reflecting the grace that has been shown to you by the living Christ …

#pkes    #MinM