Peace For The Prodigal
Go in peace for God is with you and for you.
“Now Naaman was commander of the army…He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy…Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold…With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.” As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!”…Elisha…sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” So Naaman went…Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?…So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. “Go in peace,” Elisha said. 2 Kings 5:1-19
Are you at peace? Do you have peace within your heart, in your mind, and in your soul? God wants you to have peace. He wants you to have peace with Him, with yourself, and with others. Do you?
Peace is not just an absence of conflict. It is wholeness, integrity, and strength. What keeps us from having peace? Pride, sin, fear…the list is lengthy. What is keeping you from peace?
In this passage, you can see it with the king of Israel, Naaman, and Elisha’s servant. The king of Israel allowed fear to fill in the gap of doubt about Aram’s intentions when he got a letter. Why do we allow fear instead of faith or love to fill in the gap of doubt? Naaman was offended, pride almost cost him the answer to his prayers and certainly hurt his peace. Gehazi, Elisha’s servant lied, stole, and hid resources out of fear of not having enough.
It is easy to judge when we read a story like this from a third-party perspective and see where others fell short, but can we look in the mirror? Do we live as though God is with us and for us? Do we trust that he will provide for us and is faithful?
“I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. The cords of death entangled me; The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy…the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. You make your saving help my shield…The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!” Psalms 18:1-46
Do you see how differently David looked at difficulty and drama? He did not let the attacks of the enemy, opinions of others, or the worries of the world turn him away from his calling. He was made to be a shepherd, a king, a poet, and a warrior. When he faced trouble, he stood firm in who he was made to be and trusted, and who God is.
Is that how you approach problems or pressure? Every one of us will have obstacles to overcome and issues in our lives that we have to address. We will have people who offend us, an enemy that lies to us, and face the fear of what could go wrong. Wisdom tells us not to be afraid of sudden disaster. So many of us allow fear to sap our strength.
When David was in the middle of what felt like death, he chose to declare truth. He declared that God was with him and for him. He is my shield and strength. Whatever comes against me will not compare to the power of my God who loves me. Do you believe this to be true? Do your words, actions, and attitude show you trust the Lord with your trials?
“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge…Good people obtain favor from the Lord, but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes…the house of the righteous stands firm…From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward. The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult. The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy. The Lord detests lying lips…The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Proverbs 12:1-26
Solomon compared the wicked and the righteous. The litmus test for everything was truth. God is Spirit and Truth. Truth tells us that there is a way that we can live that is right in the eyes of God. Truth says discipline is good and leads to blessing. Truth says God has a plan and makes a way. Truth says the people who stay true to God are prudent, humble, hard-working, and bring healing to others by promoting peace and speaking life. Think of the connection between speaking words of healing and how Elisha spoke healing over Naaman. We have that same power with us to bring healing with our words.
The opposite is people who are wicked and twist the truth. These people lie, scheme, hold on to offense, do not forgive, ignore the needs of others, and do whatever they think needs to be done to get what they want. The devil is so good at getting us to deceive ourselves. We might say that we are simply strategizing, but often we scheme and plot evil. How many times do you try to figure out a way to solve your problems and justify doing something that is not right in order to get out of what you fear? There is never a right time to do the wrong thing.
“The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.”
Jeremiah 1:4-19
An entire book of the Bible was written about the prophet Jeremiah. God spoke to him and spoke through him. He used him in mighty ways to make a difference in the world. But do not miss the beautiful beginning of Jeremiah’s walk of faith. It does not start with a bang, but with questions. Even mighty prophets had to learn the truth that God made us, knows us, is with us, and is for us.
How did Jeremiah respond to the call that he was anointed? He told God that he didn’t know how to speak and wasn’t qualified. Where do you think that thought came from? Certainly not from God. It comes from the mindset that we operate out of our own strength and in our hearts, we know that we have weaknesses. The enemy of our lives loves to poke and prod. He wants us to doubt our identities and the Almighty.
God’s message is so straightforward and simple. He said I knew you before I made you. God said not to fear. I am with you and for you. Twice He declared truth to Jeremiah. God will repeat the truth until we learn to really believe. How would it change how you approach today if you declared that fear has no hold on you, that you were made by the hand of the living God, that you are loved, that God is with you and He is for you? Do you believe it?
“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep…Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him…the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” Luke 15:1-24
This beautiful story in Luke is often referred to as the prodigal son, but it is better understood as the Good Father. You see we always want to make the story about us, but the truth is, we are part of a much bigger story of God’s plan to bring peace to the world through His Son Jesus Christ. It’s not about us. It’s about Him.
Peace is a gift that comes from trusting the truth. It comes when we realize and live out the truth that God is always with us. Fear tells you that you are alone. Pride tells you that you have to do everything in your own strength. The enemy whispers lies of scarcity. Sin seduces us. The gospel tells you something entirely different. Even when you are lost, have gone your own way, or fallen short; while you were actively working against God, Jesus died for you.
The good news is you are known by God, loved by God, pursued by God, and invited to walk with Him every day. Jesus is where peace begins. Jesus restores peace. He brings healing.
Today is all about finding peace and letting peace find you. Naaman found peace when he humbled himself and listened to the words of God spoken through Elisha. David found peace because the Lord was his strength. Solomon spoke of how we can have peace with others by doing what is right. Jeremiah found peace when he believed that God knew him, called him, and would never leave him.
Jesus revealed the heart of the Father, who searches for the lost, runs toward the broken, and celebrates every person who comes home. God’s desire has always been restoration, not separation. He is the God of peace.
What is stealing your peace today? Is it fear, pride, offense, uncertainty, scarcity, or shame? Bring it to Jesus. Trust Him with what you cannot control. Speak His truth over your heart instead of believing the lies of the enemy. The same God who rescued David, called Jeremiah, healed Naaman, welcomed the prodigal home, and pursues lost sheep is with you.
Go in peace because the Lord is with you, the Lord is for you, and nothing can ever separate you from the love of Jesus Christ.