July 6, 2013 A Blessing

Read 2 Corinthians 13 A Blessing 2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. IF YOU have been around church for any amount of time, you likely have heard this blessing or words very much like them. Typically these are the kinds of words a minister or elder uses to offer a benediction at the end of worship. A benediction is a blessing. And I think it is really good to pause and consider why Paul would offer this blessing at the end of his letter to the church in Corinth. Think seriously and think steadfastly on God’s inspired words to you through Paul, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” The Lord God, who has written his Word for your benefit, pleasure, salvation and blessing, offers himself to you. Have you ever looked at the Bible’s blessing in that way? Yes, it’s true; God is offering himself to you. You see, the only way it is possible to know the “grace of the Lord Jesus Christ” is to know that Jesus came from heaven to die for you. His life on earth was to live for you, to die for you, to rise again for you and to ascend for you. His grace caused him to pay the price of your sin to the Father. His grace saves you. “The love of God” caused this to happen. As God is love, he sent Jesus to save you even though you were a sinner and didn’t deserve to be saved. (Romans 5:8). “Amazing love, how can it be that you my King would die for me?” And then see the “fellowship of the Holy Spirit”. Wow! As you are saved in your faith to eternal life, you are in fellowship, in relationship with the Holy Trinity—Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Now do you see how personal this blessing is for you? Next time you hear it, thank God he has blessed you unto eternal life. It’s True! Blessing is life. Be blessed, be alive in Jesus!