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MERE PLATITUDES OR GENUINE SPIRITUAL CONCERN?
MONDAY, APRIL 3
Philippians 1:1-4

Colossians 1:1-6

 

“Grace be unto you, and peace…”

 

MERE PLATITUDES OR GENUINE SPIRITUAL CONCERN?
 
Throughout the epistle to the Philippians, we see a genuine love and close friendship that Paul had with the Philippian church. It was written to thank and encourage the church for their support in his ministry, and to exhort them concerning certain issues that they were facing.
 
In the first few verses of this epistle, we catch a glimpse of that warm relationship between Paul and the church. It is easy to sometimes gloss over these opening words and see them as just mere platitudes. But we know that every word of Scripture is inspired. Paul was not writing these words as a mere formality or perfunctory greeting. He sincerely meant every word that he had written.
 
As he wrote to them, he wished grace and peace upon them. Grace would be the unmerited favour that we have received from God, of both the salvation and sanctifying grace that the Lord bestows upon us. Peace speaks of the new relationship that we have in the Lord as believers, whereby we are no longer enemies of God, but reconciled to Him by His grace, able to have an abiding relationship with God through Christ. In the rest of his epistle, we read more of the affection that Paul expressed through his writing, showing that he truly did care for them. He would back those wishes he conveyed through heartfelt exhortations and prayers that he made for them. This reflects a true spiritual concern that God’s grace and peace would indeed abound in their lives.
 
When we greet each other, whether in person or in writing, we would often say certain words of greeting. Do we do this more out of habit, or in true sincerity? When we say, “God bless,” “have a blessed day,” greet someone “in the blessed name of Jesus Christ,” or tell a person “May God’s grace be with you,” what do we really mean? Will we back the greeting with actions that would truly help their lives to be blessed? Will we also encourage them spiritually and pray for them?
 
THOUGHT: Is it better to not greet someone, or to greet them but not mean it?
PRAYER: May the words of my lips, including the well-wishes that I make, be yea, yea, nay, nay.

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