“Paul …To the saints, the faithful in Christ Jesus: grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,” Ephesians 1v1-2. Paul begins this letter with a typical format for a letter of that time, he states who it is from and who is writing to, and then gives a greeting “grace and peace to you.” The words grace and peace were also typical language to use in a greeting, but here is the thing: he is not giving this greeting as coming from him, but from “God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” This is how God addresses the church and those made holy (“saints”) in Christ. This is a letter from God.

This is for us to take personally today – both as individuals and as a church of Christ in Telford. God the Father and the Lord Jesus both address us “grace and peace to you.” God speaks over you, as you approach him, “have more than you deserve (grace)” and “experience peace and wholeness,” this is his desire for us. These are wonderful words of comfort and assurance, of hope and welcome. He is not slow to address you, but gets in there at the start. This is what it means when it says “God shows his own love for us in this, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Before we said a word of repentance or faith, he spoke love and grace.

You may like to listen to “It’s grace” on our website here: www.hopeadmaston.org.uk/music/

May we each appreciate the full grace and peace of God this day,

With love and blessing,

Roland