Welcome To The Journey Before Us
And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. – Mark 1:17-18, ESV
I begin our journey together by reminding you of Christ’s invitation: “Follow me.” It is the same invitation He gave His first disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. Imagine the choice they faced: leaving home, family, their trade, and the only community they had ever known to follow Jesus. I am struck by their response to this invitation. Immediately, they dropped everything and followed Him. This is, in fact, the opportunity before you. You are invited to follow Jesus!
What will you do – will you just drop everything and follow Jesus? Will you turn off the screens, make space for prayer, dig into Scripture, find a place for silence so that you might hear from God? Can you walk away from the busyness and hurry of social media and smartphones and find time for your soul?
It has been my experience that following Jesus will bring changes and requires faith – the trail will at times be difficult, but it will bring joy, there will be much that is unexpected, but it is an adventure to follow Jesus. Are you willing to say yes to the invitation to follow Jesus?
Note: It is not merely to believe in Jesus but to drop everything and be willing to go with Jesus wherever He leads.
This blog is for those who say yes and are ready to set out on the trail with Jesus. The goal is to share with one another the unfolding story of walking with Jesus along the journey of becoming disciples or “fishers of men”. I will share with you passages that are speaking to me, as well as articles on the means of grace – those practices/habits that put us in the path of grace and bring about transformation in our lives. In the coming weeks I will expand upon what we are learning in The Good and Beautiful Life course. In addition, I will share links to other resources that are feeding my soul and shaping my heart. From time to time, we may have a guest writer who will share a bit of their journey along the trail with Jesus, but I will be the principal writer as this is one way I can share my heart as your priest.
This will not be a place of academic discourse, but rather practical conversation. I have in mind the walk taken by Cleopas and his companion as they walked to Emmaus. (Luke 24:14-32) Jesus joined them on the walk and their hearts “burned within them” as He opened the Scriptures. It is my prayer that as we journey together Jesus will join us and warm our hearts and transform our lives. So, this is a place for story but not always answers. It is a place to share hopes even when the way is hard. I am looking forward to The Journey Before Us.
Father Keith