Praying God’s Word

13. Come Follow Me

Starting a Journey with Jesus, Day 13  (Matthew 4:18-22)

Jesus invited two sets of brothers, all fishermen, to come and journey with him.  You are invited to continue the journey too.

Walking beside Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew.  They were throwing their nets into the lake, for their work was fishing.  Jesus said to them, “Follow after me. I’ll make you a fisher of men.”  Right away they left their nets and followed him.

A little ways further he saw another pair of brothers, James and John, Zebedee’s sons.  They were sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, mending their fishnets, and Jesus called them to follow.  They immediately left behind the boat and their father and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-22)

(more…)

Continue Reading13. Come Follow Me

12. Light in Galilee

Starting a Journey with Jesus, Day 12    (Matthew 4: 12-17)

When the sun has gone down and it is dark and you need lots of light to get your work done, it can be very frustrating.  How you wished for more light!  When the sun comes up, then you will be able to see again.  But can you imagine darkness that lasts years?  decades?  centuries or more?! (more…)

Continue Reading12. Light in Galilee

11. Temptation

Starting a Journey with Jesus, Day 11    (Matthew 4:1-11)

When you travel, you probably have a destination in mind.  Yet even with a destination defined, it is rarely a straight line to get there.  Jesus goes into the desert, which was not exactly a detour, but it isn’t the most direct route that human wisdom would choose for bringing in God’s Kingdom.  What important lesson needs to be learned in the wilderness?  Let’s see… (more…)

Continue Reading11. Temptation

10. Righteousness

Starting a Journey with Jesus, Day 10  (Matthew 3:13-17)

No sooner did John promise One greater would come after him, the Messiah (Christ), than Jesus appears with a request that defied all expectations.

Then Jesus appeared at the Jordan River, arriving from Galilee, and he wanted to be baptized by John.  John wanted to prevent it from happening and said, “I need to be baptized by you, and you’re coming to me?!”

Jesus answered, “Let it be this way. It perfectly fits within God’s will to fulfill all righteous requirements.”  So John allowed it.

After being buried in the waters, Jesus immediately came up out of the water and the heavens opened up and he saw God’s Spirit descending and landing on him like a dove. A commanding voice from heaven spoke: “This is my precious, beloved Son.  I am so happy with him!”  (Matthew 3:13-17)

Jesus comes to John to be baptized.  John recognizes Jesus as greater than him, holier than him and having no need (more…)

Continue Reading10. Righteousness