¹² When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. ¹³ He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. ¹⁴ This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁵ “In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali,
    beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River,
    in Galilee where so many Gentiles live,
¹⁶ 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.”

¹⁷ From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

¹⁸ One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. ¹⁹ Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” ²⁰ And they left their nets at once and followed him.

²¹ A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. ²² They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.

²³ Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. ²⁴ News about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed—he healed them all. ²⁵ Large crowds followed him wherever he went—people from Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River.

Matthew 4:12-25

Dear God, I want to focus on verse 17 this morning: ¹⁷ From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” It was a pretty simple message. And we’ll see more of it right after this in the next chapter when Matthew gives us Jesus’s stump speech. So we know this wasn’t all he said, but this was the main message Matthew shared with us: “Repent of your sins and turn to God.”

Does that need to be my message for people today? Before I go there, is this your message for me today? “John, repent of your sins and turn to God.” I think my conscience is clear before you, but I haven’t really examined it. I need to do that. Where am I failing you and myself right now? Where do I need to repent. Search my heart, oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

I have some friends who I know are struggling, and I would love to see them walk through the narrow gate. I just know they would be so much happier than they currently are. And I get it. The narrow gate is narrow for a reason. It takes self-discipline. It takes intentionality. It takes resolve and determination. It takes humility, submission, and perseverance.

Father, help me to first, live up to the task of walking through the narrow gate today, and then help me to guide others into the gate so that they might repent and turn to you. You love us. You want us. You are for us. Help us to build our lives so that they are yours wholly and completely.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen