Ephesians 1:2 English Standard Version (ESV) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Cultural norms differ from country to country and region to region. Greetings here in America are not any different but they tend to be less formal and are not as likely to extend a blessing. Cultural diversity is great in America and ethnic greetings tend to be shared only within that ethnic group.

Even the handshake has evolved into a complicated ceremony based on what is in fashion at the moment. That can change and does. It is harmless and often meaningless and that might be the problem.

Paul extends a blessing to his readers from God. Is that a reminder of where grace and peace originates or does that come from within Paul and then released by the power of the Holy Spirit? If it were a reminder from Paul then it would not carry as much weight as if the Holy Spirit was the vehicle of transference of the blessing.

2 Corinthians 5:20 English Standard Version (ESV) Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Ambassadors are diplomates and diplomacy requires that the message being delivered is accurate in tone and content representing the interests of Christ.

I doubt we remember that when greeting friends. How about strangers? Do we greet them with the same casual familiarity as we do our friends? They don’t know us and possibly do not know Christ. Doesn’t that make a greeting as an ambassador from Christ even more important?

Granted this will not affect our eternal salvation but it just might affect someone else’s salvation.

When the clerk at the store asks me how I am doing, perhaps I should not tell them how I am feeling at the moment. It is an opportunity to use a diplomatic approach with measured words.

Grace and peace to you.