The Missing Piece
by Malcolm Wood
We’ve just had granddaughter, who’s nearly three years old, staying with us for two nights, while her Mummy and Daddy have been away. One of the many and varied activities we’ve been engaged in during this time has been doing jigsaws. However simple or complicated a jigsaw is, it’s the sense of achievement and satisfaction which comes when the final piece is put in place, and the picture is complete, that makes all the effort and patience worthwhile.
Many people today are looking for that final ‘piece’ for the jigsaw of their lives, seeking the fulfilment and satisfaction of a life which makes sense and has purpose. We know of someone, and I expect there are many like her, who’s been a regular church member for many years, a member of the choir, is on the flower arrangement rota, and is very much engaged in church activities. This lady readily admits to finding the presence and peace of God in church. Sadly, as far as we are aware, she has no personal relationship with God Himself through the Lord Jesus. Yes, it is possible to experience something of the presence and peace of God and still not know Him as a person. Yet it’s this relationship with God as our loving heavenly Father which makes all the difference to our lives, and completes the picture.
All through Scripture we see how God’s heart is to restore the relationship with man, which was broken in the Garden of Eden when man turned away from God. God’s desire is for all to enjoy the relationship with Him for which we were created. To this end Jesus came, so that, through His death on the cross, all those who believed in Him could enjoy that restored relationship with God (John 3 :16).
The real presence of Jesus in our lives makes all the difference, just as His disciples discovered on the evening of the day He rose from the dead. In John 20 we’re told that the risen Jesus brought His followers peace (verse 19), promised them power (verse 22) and gave them purpose (verse 21). May we all acknowledge our need for the presence of Jesus in our lives and learn to accept more of Him day by day. Then we shall know His peace, experience His power, and fulfil His purpose in our lives, all in increasing measure.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your death on the cross. Please help me to appreciate the relationship with Father God that Your sacrifice made possible, and enter more fully into it, knowing Your peace, experiencing Your power, and fulfilling Your purposes in my life. Amen.
Malcolm Wood and his wife Anna became part of the Ellel family as House Managers at Ellel Grange in 1990. Since then they have been involved with many aspects of the developing Ministry. From 2001 until 2015 they were Directors of Ellel Scotland where they hosted several International Schools and Operation Blairmore and helped pioneer the exciting Creative Inspiration Weeks. They have three sons.
Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship. Provided full acknowledgement is made to Seeds of the Kingdom as the source, you are also welcome to use it in a non-commercial way and reproduce it in magazines or other Christian websites. The copyright for any commercial use of the material remains with Ellel Ministries International.
