The Oxford dictionary states that a salutation is “a gesture or utterance made as a greeting or acknowledgment of another’s arrival or departure.” My cat engages me with all kinds of salutations. When she wants to show her love, she greets me with a nudge. When I come home, she runs to me and rubs against my legs. When she wants attention, the paws come up on my leg. When she wants food, water, or a treat, she meows. Oh, and her all too famous, but not endearing to me, is when in the middle of the night she jumps up on the bed, walks across me, lays down on the other pillow and purrs while nudging me in the face. All these are her ways of greeting me and communicating what she wants or needs.
A salutation of peace is when peace sidles up to you and permeates your being. For me that is like when my cat rubs against me and settles down to snuggle on my lap or next to me. My senses are filled with her presence. I feel the warmth of her body; I hear her “motor” purring; I smell her—the smell of the litterbox she was just in, the food she ate; I see her big eyes looking up at me as she gives me a nudge which I believe is her way of saying she loves me. For a dog it would probably be when they bark or lay down next to their master with a contented sigh. A baby might babble or smile when they’re content. A toddler might squeal or reach up for you to pick them up. All of these are because they want to have that closeness of another’s touch and attention.
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 1:2
A salutation or greeting most of us use today is either hello or hi for short. Sometimes on Easter at church we use the greeting He is risen! and respond with He is risen indeed! Paul began his letter to the believers in Philippi with a salutation of grace and peace. It was a special grace and peace, not from Paul but from God Himself and His Son Jesus. It’s the only peace that is true and lasting because of the giver. Anyone can try to impart peace to someone, but it reflects back on the giver and none of us are able to give the peace of God. It comes only from God and can only be given by God.
Grace and peace sounds so … peaceful! I’d love to be greeted that way. Traditional greetings are just that—a greeting to which most of us don’t even wait for a response but keep going on our merry way. But grace and peace is more identifiable. It tells what we wish for the person we are greeting. If I was greeted with Grace and peace to you, I would definitely slow down, smile, and thank the person for that truly warm and gracious salutation. Saying those words of salutation doesn’t mean that you can impart grace and peace to another person, but it is similar to a prayer, meaning that you desire grace and peace for the person you are greeting, and are asking God to give it to you in good measure.
“Grace and peace be yours in abundance
through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”
II Peter 1:2, NIV
In the above verse, Peter tells us how we can receive that peace. He says it’s through the knowledge of God and Jesus. Therefore, anyone who does not know God and has never had a one-on-one relationship with Jesus cannot know or experience the grace and peace of God. But when you do know Jesus, then His grace and peace will be yours not only a little bit but in abundance! I love how God gives everything in abundant measure, overflowing with His goodness, grace, and mercy. Peace is no exception. The grace that goes with peace is undeserved favor. We don’t deserve any of the grace, peace, mercy, or love of God but He gives it to us anyway—free of charge, so to speak. Think of it as a bonus. Who doesn’t like it when you go to a store and there’s a bonus to the sale or an extra perk when you use your credit card?! It’s an extra benefit given freely.
Try a different salutation or greeting today or this week. If you don’t want to use grace and peace with your boss, think of another way of greeting them that begs a more specific answer than fine. In reading Amish novels, their standard German/Pennsylvania Dutch greeting is wie geht’s which means “how’s it going?” or “how goes it?”. That is more direct and begging an answer than just hello. Let a comment below and let me know what kind of response you receive. God bless!