Roof with a View

I have a plaque above the stove in my kitchen that reads "Grace and Peace be unto this place."

A girl in my Bible Study shared with us this week that she and her husband have decided they want their home to be a place of grace and peace.

In the Bible, you see this greeting over and over:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace. Peace. Pondering all of the above made me wonder for myself...exactly what do those two words really mean?

Grace:

Proverbs tells us that the Lord gives grace to the humble or afflicted.

Romans talks about the law and tells us that where sin abounded, grace abounds much more.

2 Corinthians tells us that His grace is sufficient for us and His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

The Lord gives "grace to YOU." It is personal. His grace abounds to YOU. His grace is sufficient for YOU.

The definition of the word "grace" is "freely given and unmerited". Grace is something given to us when we did nothing to deserve it. We can only extend such a grace to our spouses and children if we have the One who has freely given it to us living inside us.

Peace:

Philippians tells us peace comes from God.

John tells us that He gives us peace and not as the world gives so we should not be troubled or afraid.

Ephesians says HE is our peace.

"Peace" means "shalom," "soundness," "free from disturbance." It exists within the soul which is an inward characteristic AND is displayed outwardly. All arrows point towards the simple fact that the only One who gives us peace is God. Like grace, we can only have peace inwardly and extend it outwardly to our spouses and children if we have a personal relationship with Him.

Your husband and children may or may not meet your expectations. You may feel as if your life has reached "rock bottom." You may be facing the effects of betrayal (as we covered last week). Your life may not be what you ever imagined for yourself. Your expectations being met does not equal grace and peace being present in your home. Grace and peace CAN abound in your home. It begins with Jesus. It begins with Him living in YOU.

On this Sunday, if you know Jesus personally, will you join me in thanking Him for the grace and peace only He gives? Ask Him to give you the ability to extend the same grace and peace to everyone that enters your home--beginning with your husband and children.

God bless you!

XOXOXO

-Hannah

As we've mentioned before, if you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you can right now. All you need to do is click here and it will lead you, step by step, to a new life in Him.