Jan. 19: THE JESUS ROAD

The Apostle Paul on several occasions encouraged Christians to remember that anywhere they would go, Jesus had already been or anything that they would experience had already been experienced by Jesus. Jesus had sifted through every human experience. For instance, "He has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15 NIV). Or "Because He himself suffered when he was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted." (Hebrews 2:18 NIV)
My friend, David Marcelo, says that every Christian will follow Jesus through a Jordan River, a Wilderness, and a Galilean experience and we should learn from Him. The Jordan River experience is fun: it's like going to Church on Sunday morning. (Matthew 3:14-17) Your friends are all there, you are worshipping God in a beautiful setting, and God speaks to you words of affirmation about your relationship.
But you can't stay at the Jordan river. You leave the River to enter a Wilderness or desert experience of temptation. (Matthew 4:1-2) Tough part because you are alone in the desert. It's cold. It's lonely. You have no supporters. Satan knows that you are most vulnerable when you are alone and so he attacks you every way that he can. But as Jesus overcame every temptation in the Wilderness, He will give you strength to say "no".
When we have passed through temptation, there is our Galilee experience of ministry opportunity. Matthew 4:24 (NIV) reports that "Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching in their synagogue, preaching the good news of the Kingdom and healing every disease and sickness among the people."
As we walk the Jesus road, we, too, will have opportunities to teach, preach, and heal. You are going to have all of these experiences this week. Be prepared. Be glad. Jesus has gone before you.

"Ah, Jesus, I see you going there. Give me the strength to keep up with you. I notice
some strange things lurking along the path. Enlighten my path. Encourage me. Amen"