July 22 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

At the beginning of every worship service we rise and stand, as it were, at attention. We are in the presence of the King of kings; we are assembled together as God’s army. The first thing that we do is make a statement every other army would consider outlandish: we acknowledge that we are weak and need help. In this spiritual warfare we confess, “Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.” Having made this confession we are immediately confronted with the salutation of the Lord. God salutes us with such words as, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” When the minister raises his right hand for the salutation, he speaks the very powerful words of the Lord, words which we can easily take for granted.

The salutation is the royal salute of our King whereby we receive the assurance that we can continue with worship; the wrath and punishment we deserve has been lifted from us. Every time a minister raises his hand for the salutation we are given far more than a simple greeting. In the finest military style God salutes us and tells us that He does not stand hostile over against us.

From ancient times a soldier would carry his defensive weapon (a sword or spear) in his right hand. When he would salute with his right hand he was showing friendship and confidence. He was coming on peaceful terms—there was and could be no weapon in his hand. If a soldier had his hand up to salute you, he couldn’t quickly pull out his weapon to harm you.

There is nothing meaningless or trite about what is said at the beginning of a worship service. When we gather for worship we may do so in the assurance and confidence that we are at peace with God. We do not deserve to see an empty right hand being lifted up to salute us; we deserve the glittering sword of the Lord’s wrath. Every time we hear, “Grace to you and peace,” shivers of joy should be running down our spines! The salutation reminds us that everything is given to us as a gift of undeserved favour. We receive grace and mercy and all things necessary to live at peace with God and with each other, for we have been saluted by our Father and by our eternal Lord and King, Jesus Christ.