Missing the real goal

“The destination of the journey along the path was not simply peace, not even the peace of God. It was the God of peace. As Paul concludes the section in verse 9, “The God of peace will be with you.” The prize of peace that stands at journey’s end, like the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, is grounded in the Prince of Peace who has been with us all along. In our panic, we lose sight of Him who is our shalom. The peace that surpasses understanding is simply a return to take refuge in that realization.”— Vine Ripened Life

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That's an interesting observation, isn't it? We mistake the result for the goal. We think if we aim for peace, we'll get it. But actually, if we aim for Jesus, we'll get peace—and everything else that goes with having him, i.e., the fruit of the Spirit. Too easy...we want it to be complicated—sort of like the Syrian general who came to Elisha to be healed of his leprosy. Too simple to just dip in the Jordan; he wanted a big show. So do we...
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