Matthew 4:23-25  Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

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Jesus, Peter and Andrew, James and John, went for a walk. Verse 23 says they “went through Galilee.” They walked around the Sea of Galilee. They walked up and down hills. They walked into towns and through the countryside. 

Jesus taught in the synagogues. Teaching comprised a significant role in Jewish worship services. Who better to teach what we call the Old Testament than Jesus?

Jesus proclaimed the good news outside of the synagogues. In the next chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, we find Jesus proclaiming the good news on a hillside. 

The good news of the Kingdom of God was the message Jesus taught and proclaimed. Timewise, we find Jesus working and proclaiming more outside the synagogues than inside them. 

Jesus healed “every disease and sickness among the people.” 

The result of Jesus’ teaching, proclaiming, and healing is found in the last sentence of this chapter: “Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.”

Good news and its good impact is like that, isn’t it? 

It is good to attend worship on Sundays and to hear the good news and its proper application to our lives. It is also good to take what we learn and help others receive and apply it. The Good News of the Kingdom is refreshing to souls and renovating to communities. The Gospel sets things right with every kind of good effect. 

Here we are on a Monday, a Monday with an early alarm around these parts. Thunder and lightning awakened us around four o’clock. How will this day and this week be remembered for how the Good News of the Kingdom of God reshape and renew individual lives and the communities we live in? How will we apply the teaching we heard yesterday? How will we proclaim it where we live, work, and play? 

Put yourself in the sandals of those four fisherman who took a walk with Jesus.

• What did they see Jesus do?
• How did he include them in his work?
• Where does he want us to walk with him?
• How does he want us to join him in his work?
• What will be different because we lived step by step with Jesus this week?

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I will walk with Jesus through this day and this week.

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Our Father, I want to go where you want me to go. I want to join you in what you are doing to build a better world. Amen.