“Then we set out from Horeb and went through all that great and terrifying wilderness that you saw, on the way to the hill country of the Amorites, as the Lord our God commanded us. And we came to Kadesh-barnea. And I said to you, ‘You have come to the hill country of the Amorites, which the Lord our God is giving us. See, the Lord your God has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’ Then all of you came near me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may explore the land for us and bring us word again of the way by which we must go up and the cities into which we shall come.’ The thing seemed good to me, and I took twelve men from you, one man from each tribe. And they turned and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshcol and spied it out. And they took in their hands some of the fruit of the land and brought it down to us, and brought us word again and said, ‘It is a good land that the Lord our God is giving us.’
~Deuteronomy 1:19-25 ESV
In the heart of Deuteronomy 1:19-25, we find the Israelites at the threshold of the Promised Land. God had delivered His people from Egypt, sustained them through the wilderness, and now laid before them the land He had promised. Yet, despite the assurance of God’s gift, there remained a significant step:
They had to walk into the land and take hold of it.
This wasn’t merely a physical act but a profound act of faith, trust, and obedience. Similarly, in Mark 1:16-18, we encounter Jesus calling His first disciples with a simple, yet profound invitation: “Follow me.” This was more than an invitation to walk alongside Him; it was a call to a new way of life, a life transformed by the Gospel and lived out in the reality of God’s kingdom.
As followers of Christ today, particularly those of us navigating the quiet reflections at this stage of life, these passages speak to a timeless truth: knowing Jesus and hearing the Gospel is meant to compel us into action, into living differently. Let’s explore how we can walk into the “promised land” of a life lived fully in Christ.
1. Recognize the Land Before You
The Israelites stood on the edge of a promise. God had already given them the land, yet they needed to step into it. In our lives, Christ has given us new life and a new way of living; however, it requires us to recognize and step into it actively.
Here’s something you can do: Reflect on the areas of your life where God may be calling you to step forward in faith. Is it in deeper fellowship with others, in service, or in personal holiness? Pray for the courage and discernment to recognize where you are being called to step into God’s promises more fully.
2. Respond to the Call
Jesus’ invitation, “Follow me,” is as relevant today as it was to Simon and Andrew by the Sea of Galilee. This call to discipleship is not passive; it’s active and ongoing. Following Jesus means reorienting our lives, our priorities, and our actions around His teachings and example.
Here’s something you can do: Identify one way this week you can actively “follow” Jesus more closely. It might be through acts of kindness, dedicating time to prayer, or engaging in community service through one of our local ministry partners such as Home Sweet Home or Circle of Concer, for example. Choose something tangible and achievable, and commit to it as a step of following Jesus more intentionally.
3. Embrace the Journey of Faith
The journey into the Promised Land was not immediate; it involved battles, learning, and growth. Likewise, our journey of faith is ongoing. Following Jesus is a daily commitment that involves growth, challenge, and even failure.
But each step is part of the process of becoming more like Christ.
Here’s something you can do: Commit to being a lifelong learner of the Gospel. Whether it’s joining a Bible study, reading a spiritual book, or simply dedicating time each day to Scripture, make a commitment to grow in your understanding and application of God’s word.
Living Differently as a Result of Knowing Jesus
To know Jesus is to be transformed by Him. As church-attending “experienced adults”, we have a unique opportunity to model what it means to live out the Gospel in every aspect of our lives. Our children, grandchildren, and communities need to see what a life transformed by the Gospel looks like.
Let’s not be like the Israelites who hesitated at the brink of God’s promises. Instead, let us step into the fullness of life that Jesus offers. As we do, we’ll find that following Jesus isn’t just about a destination; it’s about living differently—transformed by His love, guided by His truth, and empowered by His Spirit every day.
In embracing this journey, we become beacons of light and hope in a world that desperately needs the transformative power of the Gospel. So, let’s step forward in faith, follow Jesus in our daily lives, and live out the profound truth that to know Him is to be changed by Him.
Pastor Mark
P.S. This invitation to step into a life actively following Jesus is not just for our benefit but for the benefit of those around us.
P.P.S.As we live out the truth of the Gospel in our everyday lives, we embody the message of hope and transformation that our world so desperately needs. Let us be not only hearers of the Word but doers, actively seeking to embody the love, grace, and truth of Jesus in every aspect of our lives. Let’s step into the promise together.
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