Grace with your spirit

To end this magnificent treatise on grace, Paul gives us a benediction of grace. The word ‎benediction comes from the Latin word “bene” which means “well”, plus the Latin word ‎‎“dicere” which means “to speak”. To speak well of; to bless, or to consecrate, is the dictionary ‎meaning of this word. In the pronouncing of the benediction at the end of a church service, it ‎is often the apostle Paul’s words of benediction that are used. The intent is to utter a short ‎prayer which conveys the sure hope of the Lord’s blessing upon those gathered for worship. If ‎you will read over these benedictions, you will find that the apostle Paul used them to bring ‎instruction as well as comfort and encouragement to the brethren and the churches that he ‎was writing to. “Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” What we ‎have here, in these few words of desired blessing, is a wealth of instruction. He is saying that ‎it is more important than anything else, in living the Christian life, that you realize that it ‎will take the imparted grace of Christ to live your life to the glory of God and to be able to ‎manifest the fruit of the Spirit in your walk with Him. ‎