It’s Not a Comfortable Life

Matthew 4:23,24 Jesus went everywhere in the country of Galilee. He taught in the synagogues and told the Good News about God’s kingdom. And he healed all the people’s diseases and sicknesses. The news about Jesus spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all those who were sick. They were suffering from different kinds of diseases and pain. Some had demons inside them, some suffered from seizures, and some were paralysed. Jesus healed them all.

If you’ve ever read the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ public ministry … man, they’re pretty exciting. Healings, casting out demons, crowds, amazing preaching – great stuff. But there’s more to all that than meets the eye.

Look … it was exciting. When the power of God was vested in this one Man, Jesus, the Son of God, it was always going to be pretty darned exciting.

Matthew 4:23,24 Jesus went everywhere in the country of Galilee. He taught in the synagogues and told the Good News about God’s kingdom. And he healed all the people’s diseases and sicknesses. The news about Jesus spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all those who were sick. They were suffering from different kinds of diseases and pain. Some had demons inside them, some suffered from seizures, and some were paralysed. Jesus healed them all.

And still today from time to time, we see that miraculous power breaking through. But the danger is that we’re constantly chasing exciting experiences – flashes, bangs, starbursts making our worship services more and more experientially immersive. We want to be happy, following Jesus.But stand back and look at His public ministry. He and His disciples walked hundreds of miles – through rain and shine, heat and cold, over hill and dale. Sometimes people gave them a place to sleep. Other times they slept out in the open on the hard ground. C.S. Lewis put it like this: I didn’t go to religion to make me “happy” I always knew a bottle of port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.

Don’t expect your journey following Jesus to be an easy one.

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.

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