Path to Peace - 2

Some of us have family members or relatives in the Middle East who are affected by the ongoing war. At our recent Prayer Meeting, we prayed especially for them and asked that this conflict would end peacefully, not just in that region but throughout the world.

Jesus told His disciples, “There will be wars and threats of war, but don’t worry, because these things have to happen before the end can come” (Mark 13:7-8 TCW). He also warned, “People will say, ‘We have peace, and we are safe.’ At that time they will be destroyed quickly, as pains come quickly to a woman having a baby. And those people will not escape,” (1 Thessalonians 5:3 ICB). It is important to understand the context of these passages. I want to remind us that we are seeing again what Jesus spoke about—wars and threats of war. We should not become comfortable or think that worldly peace and safety, which some leaders promise, will last. As Paul warns, true and lasting peace cannot come from these promises.

True peace is about our relationships, not just the absence of conflict. We find real peace when our hearts are surrendered to God. We see this in the story of King Saul. In last week’s passage from 1 Samuel 15:22-23, we learned that Saul lost his kingdom not because he stopped worshipping, but because he would not surrender to God.

When Samuel confronted Saul for not destroying all the Amalekite animals, Saul argued that they had kept some to offer as sacrifices to the Lord. He wanted to look obedient while still holding on to what pleased him. This pride kept him from true peace. By trying to stay in control, Saul did not let God lead. He also cared more about his reputation than simply obeying God. My prayer is that our worship shows obedience, our obedience comes from love, and our surrender to God brings us His peace.

-Pastor Lim