You will only be able to know true peace, true freedom, true love for others, when you find in God all that you desire.  Jesus tells a parable in Matthew 13 – “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

This was a joyful decision.  The result was the man had everything he wanted and needed in the treasure.  Jesus is our treasure.  We have in Him and through Him all that we could ever want or need.  God is calling us to believe Him, and to live out that truth in our lives.  God is loving and He yearns for those whom He loves, to be near to them and to draw them away from those things that would keep them from Him.  It is with that heart that God gives us the message below through James –

James 4:1-10 – “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?  You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.  You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.  You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?  But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

Our flesh is always going to tell us to try to find comfort in things and people apart from God.  There is no life to be had apart from God.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life – there is no other way to God, there is no other Truth apart from God, and there is no Life apart from the blood of Jesus.  What things in your life are you looking to for comfort and satisfaction apart from God?  Look above and take hold of God’s promise to you – humbly come before Him, submit your life to Him again today, and each morning, each moment, and He will draw near to you.  There is greater peace and joy found in Christ than is found in the world – believe God and find your rest in Him.

Grace and Peace,

Adam