Join the Journey

“The twelve were with him, as well as some women […] who provided for them out of their resources.”

At first glance, this transitional piece of Scripture can seem insignificant among the stories of Jesus’s miraculous work throughout his public ministry. However, when we slow down to consider Luke’s intentionality with the details, something significant about the Christian life is revealed.

The story of the Bible is all about God’s deep love for humanity, revealed through his persistent invitation to humans to join the miraculous work of his Kingdom for the sake of the whole of creation. This means that, yes, God is sovereign and can do it all on his own, yet his invitation to humanity requires action from humanity: the action to respond faithfully.

This text shows that the grace of God was at work in the lives of Mary, Joanna, Chuza, Susanna, and many others. Their response was to take part in the journey by giving of their resources to support the work of the Kingdom of God. Luke’s intentionality in sharing this might be to encourage us to do the same. We each have experienced the grace of God through Jesus’s salvific work. Isn’t that enough to respond faithfully and join in on the journey of God?

The season of Lent is a time of active reflection on this truth by saying “no” to the things of this world to give a stronger “yes” to God. This can be easy to believe, but the challenge is this: are we truly reflecting our allegiance to Jesus through the way we live, and are we doing so with all of ourselves?

The women of this story are prime examples of living out a stronger “yes” to God by giving of their material resources in ways that advanced the Kingdom of God in their time and context. I invite you to reflect on ways you can follow the model these women offer in this snippet of a grand story. What might it look like to be more faithful in giving your resources to advance the Kingdom of God in your time and context? Whatever it is, may it reflect a stronger “yes” to God. Friend, join the journey in accompanying Jesus today! May your work be blessed!

Lord God, we are thankful for your invitation to join you in such incredible work for our world; may your Spirit reveal within us ways we can more faithfully respond to that invitation. Amen.

KATHRYN FLETCHER
Master of Divinity and Master of Social Work Student
Dell Rapids, South Dakota