CAREFUL WHAT YOU WIPE YOUR FEET ON!
From Ephesians 1:2 we read these words, “Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
CAREFUL WHAT YOU WIPE YOUR FEET ON! I read an interesting story about something incredible that happened at Cambridge University. In the chaplaincy housing, there was a rug in one of the rooms that seemed old, dated, and in need of replacement. Before the decision was made to throw it out, some research was done. It was discovered the rug was made in ancient Persia. It was very rare and valuable, but those who lived in the room had no idea. They ate on it, spilled their refreshments on it, wiped their dirty feet on it, and treated that priceless rug like it was a door mat from Walmart. As I thought about that priceless rug and how it was abused and overlooked every day, it caused me to believe we are guilty of the same mistake. How? The answer is found in our text for today. How many times have we skimmed over Paul's familiar greeting that’s found at the front door of his thirteen epistles: "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 1:2). This is an amazing text repeated in every letter Paul wrote. Now if we will simply stop for a moment to meditate and chew on Paul’s greeting found in his letters, we will begin to enjoy a rich and wonderful blessing!
GOD EXTENDS HIS GRACE TO YOU! Think about it…"Grace to you." God extends His amazing grace (unmerited favor and goodness) to undeserving sinners like you and me. The best person who ever lived is not worthy of one shred of God's grace or one drop of His royal red blood. Yet, God freely pours out His grace upon all those who call out to Him in repentance and faith. There is amazing grace that draws us into a personal relationship with Him, and there is amazing grace that calls to us when we fail and fall as believers. By God's grace, repentant prodigals are embraced by the Father, and erring believers like Peter are restored to fellowship with Jesus. We are saved by His grace, sanctified by His grace, and brought to heaven by His grace. Regardless of what you have done or how far you may have fallen (the Corinthians church was full of failures), God's grace—His love in action— reaches out to you. As Corrie Ten Boom once said, "No pit is so deep, that He is not deeper still." No matter how gross the sin (Peter's was gross, indeed), His love and grace can forgive, cleanse and pull you from the depths of any sin!
GOD EXTENDS HIS PEACE TO THOSE WHO RECEIVE HIS GRACE.
The order of Paul’s greeting to the churches is very important. It is grace and then peace, never vice-versa. The reason why is simple: it is impossible to experience God's wonderful peace until you first encounter God's amazing grace. Grace is the power, and peace is the result. Peace is the byproduct of grace.
WHAT ABOUT YOU TODAY? Do you have peace today, a deep and abiding calmness within, regardless of your circumstances? So many Christians do not enjoy peace, even though it was purchased for them through the cross. Often, we pray for things we are not given assurance of in Scripture: physical healing (everyone eventually dies), financial prosperity, and restored relationships (see Romans 12:18). But wonderful peace is something that is assured to us in Scripture. Peace is a gift from the Lord. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful" (John 14:27).
NOT A RUG TO WIPE YOUR FEET ON!
Listen, if God says something once, it is important. If He says it twice, it is really important. But if He says it thirteen times in thirteen letters, it is like He is shouting it from the rooftops—"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!" Those are not mere words to skim over as if they were a meaningless friendly greeting from Paul to his churches. It is not a simple greeting at the front door of his letters to overlook and wipe your feet like it were some crummy old rug at Cambridge. It is a text to take to heaven's bank and cash it! Receive God's grace today as He extends it to you. When you do, you will experience His peace. How do I know? Because He promised! Think it over…🙏