Scripture to Read: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-2
We know this is the second letter to the believers in Thessalonica that God led Paul, Silas, and Timothy to write and send. Even though Paul is credited with being the writer of both 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians, obviously, God also used Silas and Timothy to give input into these two letters. God also used all three of these men to deeply invest in the believers in Thessalonica. Paul, Silas, and Timothy were the primary disciplers of the believers in Thessalonica. God led Paul in most of his letters to use the greeting “Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Gordon Fee, professor of New Testament studies writes: “The traditional greeting in the Hellenistic world was chairein (meaning simply ‘Greetings!’). God led Paul to write charis (‘grace’). Peace was, and still is, a common Hebrew greeting. In Hebrew, with regard to God, peace meant being reconciled to God and having God’s peace in one’s heart.” Grace and peace are divine attributes given by God alone. No other religion teaches that God loves, accepts, and forgives all of those who surrender to Christ as Lord, and that salvation is not based on our good works. God the Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord, loves us because that is who God is (1 John 4:8; 1 John 4:16). In this greeting, grace is mentioned first, and then peace, because peace flows from grace. We surrender to Christ and receive God’s abundant grace and Christ’s peace fills us, for He is our peace (John 14:27; Ephesians 2:14).
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about His grace and peace?
2. Who will you share God’s grace and peace with this week?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!