Benediction

Ephesians 6:23 – 24 “Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.”

Paul was an eloquent writer and speaker, and he knew this letter would circulate among all the churches. Though the content was primarily directed at the Ephesian church, its message was important for all the churches. It is still important for us today.

Paul covered a lot of ground in this letter. He touched on relationships between husband and wife, parent and child, slave and master, as well as our relationships with other Christians, and with God himself. And he ended his letter with the central focus of all of Christianity – peace, faith, and love.

Our relationships with other Christians can often be difficult. After all, we are imperfect beings, and we will have disagreements. But God wants us to live at peace with one another. And the only way we can do that is to first experience the peace that comes only from God. Only through a right relationship with Him will we be able to humble ourselves, and put others first.

God wants us to love one another. Since God is love (1 John 4:8), we can only really love if we are plugged into Him. He is the Love-Source. When we are open to receiving God’s love, He fills our hearts. Then, and only then, can we pour out the same selfless love to other people.

It is only by faith that we can receive this peace and love from God. And faith, as well, is given to us by the Holy Spirit. But the wonderful thing is, He gives it freely to all! He holds out to each of us the faith we need to have a right relationship with Him. We only have to accept that faith, accept what Christ did for us on the cross. He gives – we must receive.

And the beautiful thing is, when we receive it, when we really experience the love that God has for us, it changes us from the inside out. It is a transforming love, and if we let it, the transformation will continue throughout our lives. As long as we continue to accept that love through faith, we will eventually be able to to love God and others with an undying love. This is a gift of grace – not earned, not deserved, but freely given.

I have experienced that love. I want to experience it more and more. And I want to share it with everyone I meet. Let us join together, friends, in seeking to share this transforming love with the world.

Dear Father, Thank you for the love which transforms lives.

Amen