Building One Another  

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11‍

         Grace at the Beginning and Grace at the End

Dear Friend,

The Apostle Paul’s New Testament letters typically begin with, “Grace to you” and they often end with, “Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

Grace at the beginning. Grace at the end.

Trust God’s grace when you begin anything. Thank God for God’s grace at the end.

Grace simply means “God’s gift” – God’s gift of love, mercy, forgiveness, and help.

Of the end of the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas, there is a wonderful summary of what they did. “From Attalia they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them.” Acts 14:26-27*

Grace expected at the beginning as they were committed to the grace of God.

Grace appreciated at the end: a celebration of the grace God had shown through them.

When you begin something – a project, a job, a relationship, a service, even the beginning of the rest of your life, entrust yourself and others to the grace of God.

When you come to the end of something – a job, a course of study, a relationship, even the end of your life on earth, thank God for all God’s grace did to and through you!

Grace at the beginning and grace at the end – trust at the beginning and thanks at the end. Rejoice in the grace that comes in the beginning and stays ‘til the end.

Joy to you – E. Stanley Ott

©Copyright 2019E. Stanley Ott
*Scripture from the ESV

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1. Reflect on beginnings in your life - a new relationship, new work assignment, a new home, a new hobby and so on. Ask yourself, "What are the signs of God's grace I have seen and experienced in this new ventures?"
2. Reflect on endings in your life - of a place you lived, of a job you held, of a relationship you valued and so on. Ask yourself, "What are the signs of God's grace I saw and experienced as that venture came to a close?"
3. We read in Psalm 103:3, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." As you reflect on God's grace given to you in the beginning and ending of your ventures in life and in your life itself, be grateful and bless the Lord who loves you!