"Grace and Peace, Multiplied"
Our memory verse for the week speaks to the truth of how much our Heavenly Father desires our experience of His peace, based on the knowledge of His grace in the Lord Jesus Christ.
"Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord" (II Peter 1:2).
Freely given favor in the Lord Jesus leads to a relationship of peace with God regarding our standing as sons and daughters in "the whole family of Heaven and earth" (Ephesians 3:15). Our Father also desires our multiplied awareness of being "accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:6). To whatever degree we presently know such wondrous grace, we do not know it well enough. The magnitude of God's loving favor will forever fill and thrill us as we "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3:18). Indeed, to the degree our Lord experienced forsakenness on the cross of Calvary for our benefit, born again believers "have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Matthew 27:46; Ephesians 5:2). This is peace. Christ is our peace. There is no other, nor do we need any other. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee" (Isaiah 26:3).
Such contemplation may elicit thoughts of how unworthy we are to be so blessed with the peace of God. This is undoubtably the proper first response. Like Mephibosheth of old, amazed to be invited to King David's table for a lifetime, we must be amazed by the grace of our eternal relationship and standing with God through Christ (II Samuel 9:8). Moreover, our Lord would have us to know "multiplied" grace and peace. He is not content with where we presently are in our knowledge of His favor in Christ, or of the tranquility of heart that ensues when we more realize the blessed truth. Such peace leads to growth in our devotion, and to a life of faith and faithless that greatly honors the Prince of peace who makes possible our tranquil hearts.
The latter point is key in this consideration. On the cross of Calvary, the Lord Jesus bore our turmoil that we might forever bear His tranquility. We are accepted because He was alienated. We are received because He was rejected. We are blessed because He was buffeted. And we are graced with peace because He bore the wrath of God for us. Our Father gave to His beloved Son that which we deserve. He now gives to those who believe that which what Christ deserves. This is the Gospel, "the Gospel of peace" that multiplies our experience of acceptance with God as we grow in the glory of its freely given grace in Christ (Romans 10:15).
"Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound, that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."
(Romans 5:20-21)
Weekly Memory Verse
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.
(II Peter 1:2)
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