Oct 16, 2015 Words of Grace – Grace, Love & Fellowship
“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
Grace, love, and fellowship. Here is the true and lasting comfort that God gives us through faith in Christ.
This is what the prodigal son received from his father when he returned home (Luke 15:11-32). After a season of rebellion, the son finally came to his senses and went home. He hoped to be allowed to be a servant, never expecting to be received as a son. Instead, he received grace. He was forgiven and welcomed home. He was loved. The father showed him he was a beloved son. He entered into fellowship. He ate at the family table, slept in the house, joined in the work, and shared in the stories. The repentant son was comforted.
This is what the church has both received and offers to others. We are the wanderers who have entered the door of grace and keep the door open for others. We are the strangers who have become the beloved of God and so love each other as siblings in God’s family. We are the community that shares life together around the purposes of Christ who is with us by his Spirit. We are a place of comfort.
Join us Sunday as we take up the last verses of 2 Corinthians and comfort one another with these words.
– Scott