Taking the Journey

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women.
- Luke 8:1

To know Jesus in the first century meant that you went on a journey with him. That’s because he never stayed long in any one place. He kept moving. So you have to move, too, if you were one of his original followers.

That movement has become a picture of the spiritual journey that all believers have to take. It doesn’t work to be static in your relationship with Jesus. There’s always a next step - some new way to learn or grow, some new adventure or person out there to meet, some new perspective that’s waiting for you to turn the corner so you can see it.

Being on the journey with Jesus also means that there’s no telling where he’ll take you. As the civil rights activist and intellectual James Baldwin said, “I am saying that a journey is called that because you cannot know what you will discover on the journey, what you will do with what you find, or what what you find will do to you.”

Ponder the questions that stand out most to you below and talk with Jesus about them:

• What excites you most about the idea of going on the journey with Jesus?

• What frightens you most about the idea of going on the journey with Jesus?

• What’s your next step on your spiritual journey?

• Who are the traveling companions who walk along besides you on this journey?

• Who are the ones you look up to who have gone on ahead of you?

• Who are the ones who are looking to you to lead the way?

• Who else in your church or community could you be praying for right now about their journey?