“He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere” (NIV, Luke 9:3-6).
If we know one thing about 2025, it's that it will be a journey. We probably won’t be traveling from place to place with only the clothes on our backs, but we will have plenty of opportunities to share the good news with people everywhere we go. Work, home, at the park, in line at the store. I believe we are called to a life of evangelistic living in our neighborhoods, sharing the love of Jesus with everyone. In John 13:35, Jesus says, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (ESV). We can show love to everyone. Just like we talk about the weather, our families, politics, sports, or movies, we can find ways to tell others about Jesus.
When Jesus sent out the 12 disciples on their journey, He made sure they had everything they needed, but told them to bring nothing. The true journey Jesus has for us is one that requires our complete dependence on Him to provide our needs and not one that we can do without Him. A journey completed without Jesus is empty and only makes us look good or boosts our ego.
I’m curious for 2025, will we live our lives everyday glorifying Jesus, or just trying to increase our own comfort, wealth, or another measure of success? Will we live a life that is dependent on Jesus and make His name known more than our own? Will we include Him in every moment of every day? Just like the oxygen we need, with every breath that we take, will we use it to give glory and honor to the most High King?
I hope this is the greatest year yet and I pray that during this time of prayer and fasting you feel a love, peace, and comfort that can only come from Jesus!
