I Think He's Trying to Tell Us Something

To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Romans 1:7 ESV)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(1 Corinthians 1:3 ESV)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(2 Corinthians 1:2 ESV)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
(Galatians 1:3 ESV)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Ephesians 1:2 ESV)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Philippians 1:2 ESV)

To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
(Colossians 1:2 ESV)

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
(1 Thessalonians 1:1 ESV)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(2 Thessalonians 1:2 ESV)

To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
(1 Timothy 1:2 ESV)

To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
(2 Timothy 1:2 ESV)

To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
(Titus 1:4 ESV)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Philemon 1:3 ESV)

I think Paul's trying to tell us something.

That is, of course, unless we believe that it's just a coincidence that every one of his New Testament letters begins with a wish for grace and peace to be supplied to the recipients.  And by "coincidence," I mean that the Holy Spirit just happened, with no planning or forethought, to inspire him to write this greeting to all his recipients.

Ummmm, yeah.  Ummm, OK.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
(2 Timothy 3:16 ESV)

I find it interesting that of all the things Paul could put up front, he chooses grace and peace (except in his letters to poor Timothy, who I guess needed an extra helping of mercy too!).

Think about it.  Though he does get into these topics in the bodies of his letters, he could wish his readers get saved, be sanctified, think rightly, pray, or any number of things.

Heck, as much as Paul is about the gospel, you'd think that would be up front.

But no, it's grace and peace.  But it's not just the "grace and peace" thing that gets repeated.  It's the source of grace and peace.

God.  Always and only God.

How often do we hope for grace from our friends (or enemies)?  How frequently do we look for peace in a bottle?  How many among us waste their lives "looking for love in all the wrong places" as the old country lyricist wrote?

God.  Always and only God.

May God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord bring you grace and peace today.