It Would Be Enough

194 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Ti 1:2b, “Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I covered this common greeting in the New Testament letters in 1 Timothy, but I think it's important to cover it again, because it's a message we all need to hear! Grace, mercy, and peace to you! Perhaps you remember your pastor starting his sermons with that same greeting, well there's a reason for it! These words are not meant to be fill material. It is the primary message that God wishes to convey to the world through His church!. There is a beautiful picture of this portrayed in the Book of Revelation! Re 4:3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.” There is much symbolism involved here, but let me try to briefly picture what is being portrayed: The Son of God, seated on the throne, completely surrounded by a green rainbow. It's green because it symbolizes life, it's a rainbow because it is the sign of God's covenant of grace, mercy, and peace. The picture is this: grace, mercy, and peace, emanate from the throne which is surrounded by 24 elders who represent the church, and the Office of the Word. (The 12 patriarchs of the OT and the 12 Apostles of the NT. These 24 elders (the church) receive this message of grace, mercy, and peace, and are charged with passing that message along to the world in the power of the Holy Spirit until our Lord returns. It's not that we are commanded to start every sermon in that manner, but it certainly serves as a good reminder to all who serve in the Office of the Word, and quite frankly, if that would be all the pastor said....it would be enough. So I say it to you! “Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and Christ Jesus Our Lord!