Grace and peace

Paul's greeting to the saints in Colosse is typical in form, but distinctive in content, for he invests it with rich spiritual realities already received and increasingly enjoyed. In that sense, it is both declaration and desire, both pronouncement and petition.

Paul traces up the streams of blessing - grace and peace - to the fountain of blessing, God our Father. Matthew Henry summarises these things as 'the free favour of God and all the blessed fruits of it.' They flow from the fountain down the channel of blessing - Jesus Christ, in whom we have received adoption as sons.

Have you received grace from God, and do you enjoy peace with him? Do you realise that you will never find grace and peace apart from God, nor apart from each other, for grace precedes peace, and peace results from grace? Do you enjoy the grace and peace that you have received, if a child of God? Do you pray for grace and peace, seeking them for yourself and others? Do you dwell on the grace and peace received with joy and thanksgiving? These are blessings that outstrip all the world has to offer, obtained only in and through the Lord Christ.