That they may be one as We are One (IV) Shalom

Shalom is a Hebrew word often translated peace.  This peace is much more than the absence of war, and/or of hostilities, though it includes that. It also includes the idea of completeness, health,  prosperity,   quiet, tranquility and contentment. It is also used as a greeting and thus a blessing. To wish you shalom is to wish you all of the above.  I was talking to a couple last night who have been married over seventy years. She is having trouble seeing and he hearing, and she jokingly said that together they make up a single person. It struck me that it is a parable of what the Lord prayed for when He prayed to that Father that we may be one (John 17:11).  I am talking about a unity where the differences complement each other, rather than allowing the differences to divide us.

I am sensing in this couple something close to, or at least moving towards shalom,  as they spend all day every day together,  and use their time with the Lord and  in prayer. I didn’t always sense this in their relationship, but then they were not always seeking to follow the Lord with all their heart, mind soul and strength.   I have the sense in relationships with each other, and with God, we are either moving forward towards shalom, or we are moving back.  Well I suppose we can be stuck at various stages, stuck on a kind of  plateau where we will eventually move one way or the other.  But it is clear from Jesus’ prayer which way He wants us to move. And as I said the other day, it takes two to decide to move forward together.  I do have to say though, that while in any relationship difficulty both sides will inevitable have faults, just one can sabotage moving forward.

Having said this, I don’t believe we move forward without a radical obedience, without a radical determination by the Spirit to put to death the deeds and the desires of the flesh (Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:24).  We  cannot do this without His help, but we do need to cooperate, co-partnering with Him in allowing  Him to use our difficulties to mold us into His image  in the iron sharpening iron process (Proverbs27:17).   And it seems to me and essential part of this is to make  it a priority to spend time in His Word and in His presence, and to do this, whenever possible and when appropriate,  together.  When we do,   we will  be transformed from one degree of shalom glory to another as we behold His face as in a mirror (2 Corinthians 3:3-8). It is a principle of the Word of God!

Lord Jesus,  please show us how, and give us Grace,  to let this mind be in us that was in You,  who did not think it robbery to be equal with God but  You humbled Yourself to become obedient even to the point of death on a  cross. Part of this is Lord,  is   with Your help, to put aside selfish ambition and conceit,  and to humble ourselves,   putting others first and viewing  and treating them as more important than ourselves. When we do this Lord You will in due time exalt us as the Father exalted You (Philippians 2: 1 Peter 5:6).  Help us Lord for we are weak, but in You we are strong and we do so want to bring Honour and Glory to Your Holy and Precious Name Amen