New Year Eve

Benediction (New Year eve)

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16

On Christmas day, I talked with one of my pastor friends who lives in Florida. At the end of the call, he said, “Okay, let me ‘benedict’ our call.” And what he does is, he prays a blessing on me—a benediction. We do not hear this word a lot in the modern era for normal usage. The word “benediction” was most commonly used in the 1800s.

It comes from two Latin root words: “bene” meaning “well” and “diction” meaning “to speak.” It means “to speak well of.” Some of our church traditions close the service with a benediction, we do at the end of the service, which is “speaking well of God and the people of God.” It is a blessing spoken over God’s people, and it usually comes at the end of the service. It’s a blessing spoken over God’s people. Many of the epistles in the New Testament end with a benediction. The main theme in these benedictions is a prayer that God’s people will be blessed with peace. Let me give you a few examples.

Peace be to the brothers [and sisters] . . .from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph.6:23).

1 Thessalonians 5:23, “May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely.”

And Romans 15:13: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.

May the God of peace be with you all. Amen” (Rom.15:33)

So on the last day of this year, I want to leave you with a benediction—a blessing for the year ahead, a prayer for peace. I’m going to take this benediction from the end of 2 Thessalonians 3:16. This was Paul’s benediction to the believers in Thessalonica.

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”

That’s my benediction for you today.

Now understand, during that time, Thessalonica was the capital city of Macedonia. The population was approximately 200,000 people. It was a big city in that day. It was a political and commercial center. Paul was talking to the believers. There had been ongoing pressure and persecution against believers. The believers who were left in Thessalonica were experiencing hostility against their faith—hostility from both Jews and Gentiles, who wanted to get rid of the Christians.

These believers needed comfort. They needed encouragement, and they needed strength to keep pressing on. Paul could not be there with them, but he could pray for them. Between 1 and 2 Thessalonians, there are six benedictions! This little group of believers especially needed these blessing prayers—prayers for them to be blessed.

This is the final one of those six benedictions, at the end of 2 Thessalonians: “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way” (3:16). A different translation says it this way: “May the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance” (NASB).

So what is this peace? “The Lord is peace”—shalom: peace, wholeness, safety, well-being, absence of agitation or discord. That’s the peace word: prosperity, joy, safety, tranquility, rest, harmony. It’s all that we need! In the midst of fearful overwhelming circumstances, the Lord is shalom-—the Lord of peace.

The Lord of peace Himself! He will give you peace in your heart today, tomorrow, next week, next month, and all throughout the year ahead. He is the author of peace; He is the source of peace.

And so Paul says, at the end of this benediction, “The Lord be with you all.” And like Paul, I would like to end my benediction to you all, May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all!

I pray for my brothers and sisters who are listening today. Coming into this new year, may the Lord of Peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way. May the Lord, may the Lord bless and keep you. Make His grace and His face shine upon you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you; And give you peace, and give you peace. Amen!