I Prepared for My Last Journey to Jerusalem

Meditations based on readings from

The Story of My Life As Told by Jesus Christ

November 13, 2019

I Prepared for My Last Journey to Jerusalem

Page 192-193

Matthew 8:19-22; Luke 9:51-62

The earliest followers of Jesus were called people of The Way. That expression connoted both a way of life, as well as a spiritual journey on the way to become fully-devoted followers of Jesus. As Jesus began his journey to Jerusalem, we are confronted with several truths about seeking the life in Christ as our way of life. Even as the Samaritan villagers did not welcome Jesus because he was a Jew, so also in many parts of the world, including the USA, Christians are not welcome. In the face of such hostility and rejection, the human inclination is to return hate for hate. Jesus rebuked his disciples for such thoughts, and so he does us when we yield to the flesh.

As Jesus continues on his way, he has several conversations that remind me of the core value of Kingdom living: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind” (Luke 10:27). The conversations about the cost of discipleship Jesus had along his way to Jerusalem may create a tendency to think about this value as a dichotomy; either you love God or your family. But this is a both / and commandment. Love God first, with all that you are and hope to be, and God will enable you to honor all the relationships in your life.

My Takeaway:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

    and do not rely on your own insight.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

    and he will make straight your paths.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NRSV)

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Copyright © 2019 by Alex M. Knight

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

• Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

• The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.