Let us hold onto grace... and be held

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Grace.

"Grace and peace be with you."

These words are the bookends of almost every chapter Paul writes in the Bible.  A salutation and a benediction. A greeting and a farewell. It is as if Paul can't seem to emphasize it enough: No matter was is held between these pages, make sure it is held in light of grace. Read it with the lens of grace. These are the bookends of life.

Grace in Genesis. Grace in Revelation.
Grace in the Garden of Eden. Grace in the New Jerusalem.
Grace in your waking. Grace in your sleeping.
Grace when the sun rises. Grace when dawn falls.
Grace in your laughing. Grace in your crying.
Grace in the valley. Grace on the mountain top.
Grace in the desert. Grace in the meadow.
Grace in the kneeling. Grace in the running.
Grace in living. Grace in dying.
Grace in your coming. Grace in your going.
Grace when you inhale. Grace when you exhale. 
Grace, grace, grace.

"Therefore, since we receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold onto grace." (Hebrews 12:28). Let us hold to grace. Hold onto the grace of Jesus. It is when we are holding onto grace that we find that nothing can overwhelm us like grace can overtake us. 

We don't have to grasp at fraying threads of hope or dangle helpless. We don't hold on in desperation- although it may sometimes feel like that. We hold on to the strong hands of Grace. We wrap our arms around the neck of Grace. 

And we suddenly feel Grace holding us.

Grace and peace be with you.

Grace.




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