Grace and Peace

Eph 1:2  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Last night we had a  wonderful time together in a cell meeting. Cheong and Janet were great host. James and Galilee served great sandwiches. Really good lahhh. The topic of our sharing was on Pastor's message last Sunday, Grace and Peace from God.

Have you ever wonder why Paul always greets the churches with the phrase Grace and Peace from God to the churches or believers. I think that is what every Christian needs most today ie.Grace and peace from God in our daily living. Paul prayed for the impartation of grace and peace from God so that we have a victorious Christian living. With so much of temptation and challenges today, there is no doubt we need more grace and peace from God every day.

The grace of God is His unmerited favor for us. He favors us by loving us unconditionally, giving us what we need and taking care of us. He provides for our daily needs. He gives us good health everyday. Last week I had a terrible stomach pain. The doctor said it was gastritis. I prayed for healing and getting much better now. But it occurred to me how blessed are we that we do not have to suffer great pain or sickness.

A year ago I was ministering to a cancer patient from the church. He was going through chemo and he has to endure great pain due to the medication. He could not have proper meals. Each time he ate, he will vomit everything. And that was daily suffering for him. Ohhhh how wonderful His grace to us that we need not suffer for sickness. For those who are sick, God can heal you of any kind of sickness if you ask Him to.

Peace means the state of wellness, wholesomeness or well being. It includes all areas in our soul, relationships, profession, health, spirituality, emotions; both the inward and outward aspects of our lives. God wants us to be well in our whole being.

I heard of believers complaining about their jobs. They have great Sundays in church but come Monday, they are demoralised, lack of zeal and feeling unhappy with their jobs. I believe God wants us to be happy with our jobs too. He is the One who gives us jobs to do and we can expect Him to give us the best. We can have peace in our daily work.

There are a lot of sick people around. Not just sick because of cancer or other diseases but also the emotional, intellect etc. There are so many suicidal cases, emotional breakdown, extreme obesity, mental cases happening today; the underlying cause is due to the sickness in the inside.

For the Jews, peace or shalom is well being for the whole person, his or her personality, health, emotions, intellect, profession, spirituality, the future etc. So I pray that God will grant you all grace and peace. Shalom.