2 Thessalonians 3:16-18

My mother grew up a little bit country. “How country was she?”, you may ask. She was so country, she thought “y’all” was a fancy way of sayin “you-uns”. English doesn’t have solid established rules to distinguish between “you” referring to an individual, and “you” referring to the whole group.

Paul finishes up his letter to the Thessalonians with his final greetings. In his benediction he blesses the Christians at Thessalonica by saying, “…may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.” He then makes it clear that he is including all of them. God’s blessings are not just for the mature Christians, the likable Christians, the Christians that hit the mark almost every time, or even the Christians that have it all together. God’s blessing of peace is poured out on all Christians, even the ones that struggle, even the ones that are lazy, the ones that are easily confused and misled, and yes even the ones that we may personally find irritating. God desires that every Christian, no matter where they are in their walk with him, might enter into his peace.

God’s peace is not something we earn by our efforts. We cannot meditate, medicate or generate God’s peace. God’s peace is given to us by God, and it is given to us as we walk in a righteous relationship with him. Just as we could not earn our salvation, there is nothing we can do to earn the contentment and peace that comes from resting in the arms of God. God’s mercy saved us from the death we had earned. His grace gives us the peace we desperately need and desire, but that we can never earn.

Paul wanted there to be no doubt; the grace of our Lord Jesus will be with everyone who walks with him. Yet, the evidence is clear, not every Christian lives in the center of God’s peace. Mama’s answer is simple, “You-uns just need to relax and trust God; He’s got this.”