“Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This is no mere conventional greeting with which Paul opens his letters to Timothy; it is his thesis statement, the proclamation of the gospel of God’s grace, made certain by his steadfast mercy, by which he secures the eternal reign of his peace over all nations, peoples, and circumstances. It is by this grace, mercy, and peace that Timothy would be strengthened and nourished to endure and thrive even in his very difficult and pressing circumstances — and by which he would become the strength and nourishment for others to endure and thrive in their difficult circumstances. Paul’s greeting reminds Timothy of the “steadfast mercies” of the Lord by which his grace and peace are guaranteed. Paul wrote to fortify Timothy – and through him, the congregation at Ephesus – with the real strength of God’s grace, mercy, and peace for the real life of faith among a fallen people in a fallen world.

Come, let us come together, greet one another with the Grace, Mercy and Peace of God in Christ and worship before the Throne of God’s abounding glory in Christ!

Order of Worship for 10.05.08