‘When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah: “In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee where so many Gentiles live, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.”’ Matthew 4:12-16(NLT)
‘One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. And they left their nets at once and followed him. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.’ Matthew 4:18-22(NLT)
‘Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. News about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed—he healed them all. Large crowds followed him wherever he went—people from Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River.’ Matthew 4:23-25(NLT)
‘Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”’ Matthew 28:19-20(NLT)
QUIET MOMENT
Galilee was a place where God’s people lived in great darkness. A light dawned upon those living there. What is the land like where you live? Do you ever feel as though you are living in the land of the shadow of death? What can overcome the darkness?
GOING DEEPER
The light dawned in Galilee. It was the beginning of a new day, the beginning of Christ’s public ministry. He begins by preaching and then calling some fishermen to follow Him. Read Matthew 4:18-22.
What does He call them to do? How do they respond? Is He asking you to lay down any of your nets to follow Him? Will you ask Him what He wants you to leave in order to follow Him? What would be the hardest thing for you to leave?
Read Matthew 4:23-25. What was Jesus doing? How was the light of life shining in the darkness?
We need Jesus just like they did. Our hearts are hard, our minds are distracted, our wills want what they want, and we are tired, hurting, stretched, pulled upon, and pressed in from all sides. In what ways do you need Jesus? Ask Jesus to be the light in your darkness today.
When you receive the light of His truth in your life, how can you be more of a dawning light in the world around you? Jesus commanded us to go out, and He told us that we aren’t going alone, that He would always be with us (Matthew 28:19-20). What holds you back?
REFLECTION AND PRAYER
How many friends do you have that do not know Christ? Are we to surround ourselves only with Christians? How can we be a light if we never venture into the darkness? Ask the Lord about this and pray to be a light in your world.
TAKING THE TRUTH TO HEART AND BRINGING IT TO LIFE
Choose one truth from today and apply it to your heart. Take it with you throughout the day.
from Jesus, I Need You Part 5