Grace to you & Grace with you

At the beginning of all of Paul’s letters, the Apostle greets his readers by speaking grace to you.  But at the end of all his letters, he talks about grace being with you.  Grace to you, and grace with you. When Paul says “grace to you,” he is using that phrase as a prayer for divine power to be released to the reader. And when Paul says “grace be with you,” he is saying that his letters are channels of God’s grace. At the beginning of his letters, Paul says I pray that God’s grace will flow to you. And at the end of his letters, Paul says if you stay in this word, I know that God’s grace will flow to you.    

God’s word is a means of God’s grace. And Paul knew he was writing God’s word. So, at the beginning of his letters, he writes “grace to you,” because he was about to deliver God’s word, and impart God’s grace. But Paul also knew that people must continue with God’s word to continue receiving the benefits of God’s grace through it. So, at the end of his letters, he writes “grace be with you,” because abiding in God’s word causes us to abide in God’s grace. Grace to you, and grace with you. And as we abide in God’s word, God’s grace abides with us in our daily lives.

Here is the point: Get the word in you so the word will flow through you.  

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Assurance in Affliction

How did the Apostle Paul know that the Thessalonians had been chosen by God?

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

What I Want or What I Need?

If you’re like me, I’m sure that you’ve thought about what Jesus said about denying yourself and following him. And I’m sure you’ve heard people talk about the difference between what you want and what you need. And of course, about not getting what you want but getting what you need. So, when it comes to decision making, and life choices, and goals and such, you might wonder how you can tell if something is really what you need, or is it just something you want. And is that always a bad thing if it is just a want, and not a need? And things like that.   

Well, I want to make sure you understand something. This is not about having to choose between want and need. Like you’ll either get what you want, or what you need. Or that God won’t give you what you want, but that whatever happens is what you need. Or as if God is only going to give you what you need, and never what you want. Or that if you strive for what you want, God will never give you what you need.

What you want and what you need don’t have to be mutually exclusive things. And the sanctified life isn’t just a game of whatever will be will be. This is not about having to choose between want and need. This is about what you really need becoming what you really want.

You see, what you need is Jesus, whether he gives you what you want or what you feel like you need. Jesus in the center. Jesus as the aim. Jesus as the focus. Jesus as the goal. Whatever else is going on. It is not, “Jesus give me this,” but “Jesus give me you, as I go for this, or go through this.” And “Jesus, if you’re not in it, I don’t want it.” That is how you can discern the times of your life. That is how you can have spiritual stability in rough and uncertain waters. That is how you won’t miss what Jesus is doing, through all the ups and downs and all arounds. That is how you learn to trust him. 

This is when what you really need becomes what you really want.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©