When

I was a student worship leader at Calvin College, I noticed that near

the end of our worship services a number of students in the balcony

would duck out just before the benediction. The reason for that was

obvious: they wanted to get in the lunch line before most of the

other students filed out of the 1,000-seat auditorium.

But

this used to bother the college chaplain. He once said to me, “You

know, if the benediction were the only part of the whole service they

managed to catch, it would still have been worth their being here.”

He could not understand why they would want to miss out on the

blessing.

Paul

closed many of his letters with a note of doxology—as we saw the

other day (Philippians 4:20)—and then also with a lyric blessing

pronounced over the people to whom he was writing. To live under the

blessing of almighty God—to have such words spoken over us—is

among the finest things we will ever experience in life. “Grace to

you and peace. . . .” “The Lord bless you and keep

you. . . .” The benediction, or blessing, is a sign

of God’s abiding love for us, a reminder of all that gives us

peace. We should never want to miss it!

Let’s

take time to savor these words of grace and love from God the Father,

the gracious Son, and the comforting Holy Spirit. Grace to you, and

peace. Amen.