Trinity Week – Thursday

Grace be unto you and peace. – Revelation 1:4.

This is a salutation of our God, written in the Holy Book by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  This greeting is sent to the churches, to the multitudes of those on earth who believe in Christ, to all Christians, to you, O dear Christian!  A truly valid, mighty, blessed salutation from God!  This nullifies every curse.  It brings you God’s grace and the peace of God in time and eternity.  So does He greet you “which is, and which was, and which is to come” (v. 4b), Jehovah, the most High, the eternal God, God the Father, almighty Creator of heaven and earth.

This salutation comes to you “from the seven Spirits that are before His throne” (v. 4c), from God the Holy Ghost, who, with gifts manifold, proceeds from the Father and descends upon the Christians through His Word.  And this salutation comes “from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful Witness, and the First-begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.  Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests to God and His Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen” (vv. 5-6).  He, Jesus Christ, is equal with the Father.  He says: “I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (v. 8), just as the Father. “Grace be unto you and peace!”  So does the Holy Trinity greet us, greet you.  So does the eternal Father greet you.  This greeting the eternal Spirit brings you as it is recorded in the Bible, and implants it in your heart.  With this salutation does the eternal Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, greet you, who, at so great a price, procured grace and peace for you, and who exalts you to the most sublime heights, to His heart and into His glory.  How will you respond to this salutation from your gracious, merciful, loving, and faithful God and Savior?

PRAYER – Thus will I respond, most good and gracious God; give, O give to me Thy continuing, rich, undeserved grace and peace!  Shall I stand back when Thou meet me so kindly? Full well do Thou know my most miserable condition by my conception, and still Thou dost greet me thus in Christ Jesus and in His perfect work.  Yes, keep giving me Thy grace; keep giving me Thy perfect peace, O Triune God, O eternal God, O loving God and Savior!  I will bask in Thy continuing, promised grace and peace in Christ Jesus, now and in all eternity.  Amen.

Father of heaven, whose love profound, a ransom for our souls hath found;

before Thy throne we sinners bend; to us Thy pard’ning love extend.

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Almighty Son, incarnate Word, our Prophet, Priest, Redeemer, Lord;

before Thy throne we sinners bend; to us Thy saving grace extend.

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Eternal Spirit, by whose breath, the soul is raised from sin and death;

before Thy throne we sinners bend; to us Thy quick’ning pow’r extend.

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Thrice holy! Father, Spirit, Son, mysterious Godhead, Three in One;

before Thy throne we sinners bend; grace, pardon, life, to us extend.

(Hymn 242, st. 1-4; TLH)