The Shalom Journey

UV 803/10,000 The Shalom Journey The priest answered them, “ Go in peace. Your journey has the Lord’s approval.” Judges 18 v 6 This uni-verse came as I was undertaking a journey of more than 12,000 kilometers. As we traverse such distances, we will see that when it is sunrise in one country, it is sunset in another. Scripture says that His name is to be praised from sunrise to sunset. Whenever we undertake a journey, we must seek the will of the Lord. As I sought the Lord’s will, this assurance came that my journey has the Lord’s approval. When our journey has the Lord’s approval, He leads us, guides us and sends His angelic herald before us. His miraculous and wonderful presence is with us. The Lord said, “ Whenever you go to someone’s house say to them, “The peace of Jesus is with you.” Not only do we have peace about our journey but we have peace on the journey and wherever we go we spread the peace of Jesus. The ultimate purpose of our every journey is to spread the Shalom of the Lord in the lands and cities and the homes that we visit. The Psalmist wrote, “ Kiss the Son lest you perish on the way.” It implies that when we embark on a journey whether short or long, we need to acknowledge and remember the Lord Jesus. He is the one who protects us on the way and prospers our journey. He will not let us or our cause to perish. Whether it is in connection with our profession or with our mission, the Lord will give us words to share at the appropriate time. The journey is itself a metaphor for life. It takes faith to undertake a journey as we are not certain whether we will reach and when we will reach. There are uncertainties about the people and experiences we will encounter. We are sojourners and pilgrims like Abraham. We leave behind us the things that do not belong to God and move towards what belongs and is approved by the Lord. When we have the Lord’s approval or favour, we will be successful in our mission and in our lives. He will enable us to meet the right people, speak the right words and take the right decisions. He will give us the right breaks and opportunities. The Lord accompanies us. He goes ahead of us and sends Eliezers ahead of us to smoothen our way. He comes behind us too. There are different types of journey’s mercies that the Lord desires us to bless us with. He will allay our fears and anxieties of the near and dear we have left in His custody. He will comfort and protect them in our absence. Prateep V Philip