Missionary Jim Walton was translating the New Testament for the Muinane people of La Sabana in the jungles of Colombia. But he was having trouble with the word peace.

During this time, Fernando, the village chief, was promised a twenty minute plane ride to a location that would have taken him 3 days to travel by walking. The plane was delayed in arriving at La Sabana, so Fernando departed on foot. When the plane finally came, a runner took off to bring Fernando back. But by the time he had returned, the plane had left.

Fernando was livid because of the mixup. He went to Jim and launched into an angry tirade. Fortunately, Walton had taped the diatribe of the chief. When he later translated it, he discovered that the chief kept repeating the phrase, I do not have one heart.

Jim asked other villagers what having one heart meant, and he found that it was like saying, There is nothing between you and the other person. That, Walton realized, was just what he needed to translate the word, peace.²

To have peace with God means that there is nothing... no sin, no guilt, and no condemnation that separates us from Him. And that peace with God is possible only through Christ. At times we are the ones condemning ourselves for something that God has already forgiven, but then we disrupt the peace that comes from living in the freedom we have been given. Do you have one heart with God today? Have you fully accepted all that He has done for you and are you living in such a way that brings honor and glory to Him? When we have one heart with God, then our earthly relationships will also be blessed as we practice this peace with others.

Suggested prayer: Dear Lord, my ultimate desire is to have one heart with you and to know your ways and do your will. Thank you for all that you have done for me. Thank you for your forgiveness. I know that nothing can separate me from you. And just as you do not hold anything against me when I confess it all to you, help me also forgive others and live in peace with them. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

1.    Romans 5:1 (NLT).

2.    www.sermoncentral.com

The Encounter for today was written by: Crystal B.