Jesus Made Sure The Father's Grace, Mercy, and Peace Will Be Ours

What Did Jesus Do?

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father
and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.
2 John 3

State Farm prides itself on being our “good neighbor.” Allstate promises not to fumble our security because they have “good hands.” Progressive, well, they pretty must just want us to go with the “Flo.” Prudential is happy to sell us a “piece of the rock.” We never have to feel like it’s “me against the world” if we have “Nationwide on our side.” Aren't insurance companies swell? All the nice slogans can almost make us forget that they are in business for one reason—to make money off us. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad I have insurance. I just wish they’d stop trying to pass themselves off as altruists. In sharp contrast to insurers, Jesus, who provides real, eternal security, had no catchy slogan. He also never cancelled anyone’s coverage; once he accepts us, we’re tight with Jesus forever, no matter how many claims we might file. And, he never raises premiums. Job #1 and only for Jesus was truth and love, not making a profit. And because of this we get to enjoy the Father’s grace, mercy, and peace forever. In a word, salvation!

It’s a simple, but awesome formula. Take the truth of who Jesus is—the Son of God—and combine that with what he did—poured out the agape love of God on the cross—and we get grace (Which is favor that we don’t deserve), mercy (Which is not being on the receiving end of divine wrath), and peace (Which is so much more than the absence of hostility—it is absolutely intimate fellowship with God). And, we need to be certain on this point, it is such abounding grace, mercy, and peace that we have from the Father and the Son, that we can, in fact we must, spread it around. That’s why New Testament authors like John and Paul placed it prominently in the greeting of their more personal letters (1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2; and here in 2 John).

The Great Commission which the Lord has given to his disciples, all his disciples, demands that we testify to the world the truth of Jesus the Son as he expressed the love of the Father. It is our testimony, in words, yes, but even more by our lives lived after the Lord’s own example, that pour out the grace, mercy , and peace of God, the Father and the Son, upon family and friends, neighbors and co-workers, even upon people quite different from us, people with whom we have nothing in common other than our utter need for the salvation which is only to be found in Christ.

Being His disciple means he has charged us to do our utmost to make sure that the grace, mercy, and peace which He made sure is ours, is offered to every man, woman, and child. With something like, oh, 7 billion people in the world today, there’s more need than ever for grace, mercy, and peace. So the deal is, if you’re sure you’ve got it/Him, then be sure to give it/Him.

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4