“When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee.” Matthew 4:12
Jesus didn’t run from trouble, he didn’t let fear overtake him and he didn’t give into temptation. When it came to the Pharisees and the Herod gang, Jesus didn’t avoid them; instead he set a course that would intercept them.
After being tempted by the devil and upon hearing of John being arrested, Jesus returned to Galilee. Why Galilee? It is where his ministry started; where he chose his first disciples. The area was also ruled by one of the Herod brothers, Antipas, who like his father, was a very treacherous man. Herod imprisoned John the Baptist and later beheaded him. The area represented darkness, Jews intermingling with gentiles, rulers as corrupt as they come; greed, murder, torture and fear ruled the day. But then, just as the Prophet Isaiah had foretold, light entered the darkness when Jesus came to town.
In recovery we ask the question: Where is your Galilee? Who or what is the “Herod” in your life? Are we going to run to the light or to the darkness? What in your past is keeping you from being present in today; from being all that God has planned for you to be? What are you hanging onto? Hanging onto fear or resentment is just another form of letting someone or something have control over you.
In CR we learn to rely on God as we walk through the fear and resentment enveloping our lives. Doing a fearless and moral inventory gets us started. Pain is inevitable, but misery is optional. I have learned that staying stuck in the past is the misery piece. Moving forward, however painful, is where freedom is found. The freedom of true repentance is profoundly humbling, the grace of God is amazingly transforming.
…in Galilee where so many Gentiles live, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined. From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the kingdom of Heaven is near.” Matthew 4: 15-17
Love God, love people, Jesus first!
Dana Cramer // Celebrate Recovery at Crossroads
Celebrate Recovery at Crossroads Church Calendar
February 26-March 4, 2018
Friday, March 2: Teaching Night
- 6pm: Our Hospitality Team is preparing a wonderful dinner for you. Please join us for dinner and fellowship.
- 7pm: Join us for an hour of worship and a lesson on Step 5, “Confess.”
- 8pm: Open Share Groups.
- 9pm: Sold Rock Café.
Announcements:
- A new Women’s Mixed Issue 12-Step Group has started and meets every Monday at 6:30pm in room 211 at the Crossroads Loveland Campus. For more details, contact [email protected].
- A new Men’s Chemical Addiction 12-Step Group has started and meets every Monday from 6:30-8pm in the Crossroads Loveland in Room 138. For more details, contact [email protected].
- A new Men’s Mixed Issue 12-Step Group has started and meets every Monday from 6:30-8pm in the Crossroads Loveland Conference Room. For more details, contact [email protected].
