2 Corinthians 13:14- The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. NKJV
What comes to your mind when you think of the word safe? I remember when I was in the military overseas, our base was a safe haven for me. Part of the sign had the acronym USAF on it, and every time that I returned to the base I would think, you’re safe!
As the world calms down over COVID-19, we are feeling safer as we intermingle with one another to the point of removing masks mandates even in public places. Yet, at the same time, there is a war being waged in Ukraine and COVID is the last thing that they are concerned about! No matter where you are currently located in the world, and no matter what situation you find yourself in today, there is a safety that is guaranteed in Him!
Paul wrote these precious words of encouragement:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
2 Corinthians 13:14 NKJV
As we go through life aware of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ there are a couple things to be grateful for. The first is our salvation that is provided through His grace. None of us would have security in where we would spend eternity if we had not embraced the grace of the Lord. It gives a peace that surpasses understanding that no matter what happens to us in the present world, His world is ours when we transition this life.
But the other side of grace is that we have the benefit of the Benefactor! Jesus, Himself is available to us and is with us. No matter where we go, no matter what we do, we have access to Him and His ability. He is with us while we are parenting. He is with us when we get married or have an unfortunate divorce. He is with us as we navigate the world around us. Never leaving us to fend for ourselves. Paul said the grace of Jesus is always available to us, which includes not only His ability but Him! That’s incredible!
And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
Acts 4:33 NKJB
As the disciples lived for Jesus in a Jewish and worldly Roman empire, great grace was upon them all. Their way wasn’t easy, but His grace was sufficient! Throughout the New Testament, Paul continuously reminded us that the grace of Jesus was with us! What a blessing to know that we don’t have to do life without His grace, His ability, His power being available for every situation at all times!
Then Paul tells us that the love of God is with us always! When I lay in bed, thinking about God, His love is paramount in my mind. I think of His love all the time, but last night I was especially focused on His love. The verse that resonated in my heart was John 3:16-17:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
John 3:16-17 NKJV
What held my attention was how much God loves people. Jesus didn’t come to save “good” people. He came to save us all, and all of us were sinners headed to hell before He intervened in our lives. Yet, we casually look at humanity through eyes of superiority as believers, instead of through His eyes of love. He so loved the world, and He so love us!
The love of God is always with us! I remember Him telling me that whatever I went through in life, His love was there for me! And it is there for you!
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:5 NKJV
Paul wrote that God’s love has been poured out into our hearts. Not dribbled, but poured out! And in another verse, that is equally familiar to us, Paul stated:
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 NKJV
These words encourage my heart on a regular basis. God’s love is with me, and as such, I am safe and secure! Whose love can compare? None! What can separate me from His love? Nothing!
Another thing that crossed my mind last night, as it has previously, is that His love never condemns. Jesus wasn’t sent as an expression of His love to condemn the world! He was sent that the world might be saved! How many times have people walked away from us feeling condemnation instead of love? What a shift in thinking we must experience to truly show the love that we have been shown!
Then there is the communion of the Holy Spirit! Look at the abundant God we serve! First, He makes sure we understand that grace is always available to us through Jesus. Then, He makes it abundantly clear that His love is never-ending. Lastly, He reminds us that we have the communion of the Holy Spirit available to us. Are you getting this picture in your head? Are you sensing the reason that we can live in safety and security? He’s wonderful!
Communion of the Holy Spirit is not the taking of the communion elements. This communion is fellowship, koinōnia! Jesus tells us that the communion of the Holy Spirit is available to us forever!
“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—
John 14:16 NKJV
The Holy Spirit makes God and Jesus real to us. When we commune with His Spirit, we are able to see the reality of who God is. I may have shared this before, but I will share it now.
I clearly remember laying in my bed one night and weeping before God over some things that had truly hurt my feelings. As I lay there, all I kept thinking was how much I needed to be wrapped in arms that would say to me, “I love you! I got you! It’s going to be okay!” Those were not the words I was speaking or thinking to the Lord because I was just silently crying out to Him, trying not to awaken my husband.
Then suddenly, I felt as if I was wrapped in a blanket. Like swaddling. Warmth overtook me and peace flooded my being. As He held me and rocked me in the cradle of His arms, I fell asleep. When I awaken the next day, I was rested and assured that things really were going to be alright! And they were!
Communing with the Spirit of God is so much more, but I have learned that He is certainly with me and for me. He never turns me away, He’s never too busy, and He doesn’t need a long explanation to know what’s going on because He is always there.
But we also commune about life. Sometimes I will ask Him if He thought something was as funny as I thought it was. There are times I just say to Him, I know you saw that! I know you heard that! Are they serious?
This verse is such a source of encouragement. I didn’t even feel like I needed encouragement today. But as I write this blog and share of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I feel strengthened where I didn’t even realize I was weak. I trust you will walk away from this post feeling equally as encouraged in Him today. Amen! So be it! Wonderful Jesus!
Wonderful Jesus! 