Jesus Christ: Our Inner Peace for outer Triumph

Ephesians 2:12-14 – That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.

Prosperity is a function of peace; where peace is missing the prospect of progress is bleak but where peace exists there is freedom to make progress. Jesus Christ is the source of all peace but it is sad to see that lots of people try everything first and consider Him last.

I have been pastoring for over a decade and a half and the greatest barrier to people’s enjoyment of peace is the search for peace in the wrong places and lack of patience followed by the desire for instant gratification regardless of future consequences.

I have seen many put desires before discretion, pursuit before judgment and success before assessment. The outcomes have always been fatal or near fatal every time. One case comes quickly to mind.

Years ago, I knew a young man who had the desire to travel abroad and become successful in a foreign land. He was convinced that the grass was greener on the other side based on the information and evidence he had gathered from friends and relatives that resided there.

So he came and shared his ambition with me. I was happy for him and prayed with him but I cautioned him not to let his education suffer as he was at university. After a while, I noticed that while all his colleagues continued with their university education he stopped attending college; he said he was busy pursuing his trip abroad. I cautioned him again and explained to him that a travelling arrangement is not a profession and should not hinder his education. I told him that after all when he gets abroad he will have to earn a living and his skills and qualifications will be a ticket to the top otherwise he will have to start all over again and God will have to wait for him to be competent.

Friend, he did not heed my pastoral counsel. He travelled after trying for several years (mind you he could have finished his university degree and even have obtained a Masters). Some years later he called me from the foreign land and thanked me for all my help. He went on to apologise that it had been difficult for him to get in touch with me because he had to work, go back to college and now he had a family to cater for. He suddenly discovered that the qualification he did not get when he had less responsibility, he now had to get with pain and rigour. I never heard from him since and I know why, he is busy making adjustments.

Thank God for second chances. While his case is not the worst, this story echoes the situation of a lot of believers in various life settings. Forgetting to put the Jesus option at the top of the agenda and thereby missing out on the peace of consistent progression in life. Life doesn’t have to be a constant struggle or a move from one breakdown to another; you can live by design by putting Jesus first. He has arranged a path of peace for us. All you have to do is to take advantage of the plan by putting first things first.

Further reading

Philippians 4:7, John14: 27, Matthew 6:33

Personal declaration for the day

Heavenly Father, I thank you for sending Jesus to show me and be my way. Today I receive divine guidance and make satisfactory progress. Amen.

Questions for you to reflect on

How good are you at planning and assessment?

How are good at putting first things first?