the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. amen. [galatians 6:18]
despite all the challenges, rejection and persecution we may face as Christians, paul encourages the galatians with this:
grace.
when we leave others, when we sign-off—do we do so in grace, encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ, even if our message is a difficult one to deliver?
here are a few more of paul’s sign-offs–
the God of peace will soon crush satan under your feet. the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. [romans 16:20]
the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. [2 corinthians 13:14]
peace be to the brothers and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. [ephesians 6:23]
i, paul, write this greeting with my own hand. remember my chains. grace be with you. [colossians 4:18]
o timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. grace be with you. [1 timothy 6:20]
the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. [philemon 1:25]
o that we would be messengers of the grace of Jesus Christ, that when we walk away from believers and non-believers that we would leave the aroma of the grace of Christ hanging in the air–we have sinned and have no hope of earning our salvation, we have no right standing before our Holy Judge, Jesus Christ. we rest in his grace and mercy! let us run to the fountain of grace!
the apostle john ends revelation with this encouragement:
he who testifies to these things says, “surely I am coming soon.” amen. come, Lord Jesus! the grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. amen. [revelation 22:20-21]
~ ce