Loving what should be used.....

 

Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.   Luke 8:30-34 (ESV) These herdsmen are upset at their loss, and perhaps, rightfully so. However, there seems to be no focus on the man who was freed from the demonic oppression. Their focus seemed to be themselves and how this “situation” harmed them. I see no rejoicing that a man who was oppressed for many years and was most likely trouble to all in the area was now healed. Self-absorbed people are seldom happy, and if they are, it is short-lived because someone around them served or acknowledged them, or made the world revolve around them for a moment. Pigs are to be used. People are to be loved. When we get the two mixed up, we will be most miserable.

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The Simple Life

 

When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.”    Luke 8:27-28 (ESV) Satan and the demonic world acknowledge God, but their acknowledgement is useless. All people will one day do as the evil ones do--acknowledge God. There are those who are living evil lives today who acknowledge God, and their acknowledgement of God is nothing more than lip service. If we know there is a God, we should live as if there is a God. If we know that God is all powerful, loves us, and has a plan for us, then we should live as if He is all powerful, loves us, and has a plan for us. Life is not as complicated as we often make it. In fact, it is rather simple. There is a God. I am not Him. I need to live in the context of what I know.

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Where is my faith?

 

One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”    Luke 8:22-25 (ESV) Where is your faith? It’s a good question we need to ask ourselves and perhaps our friends often. Where is our faith?  Is our faith in our money? Is it in our health? Is our faith in our family? Is it in the circumstances being what we desire? We must never place our faith in what changes, for when we do, we will lose our faith. Faith is reserved for God alone, for He alone will not and cannot change. Therein lies our hope.

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For Now, The Choice is Mine

 

"No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light."   Luke 8:16 (ESV) The purpose of light is to give light. It’s silly to figure out ways to hide the light that is being produced. If we choose to do that, we need not produce the light. Jesus is light, and when we live in the presence of His light, we want to maximize its brightness and reach. What are the things in my life that would maximize the light that God has given me? What can I do today to make sure that light is shining brightly? What are the “things” that dim the light or minimize its glow? For now, the choice is mine.

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We are not victims

 

And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience."    Luke 8:9-15 (ESV) Environment matters and Satan understands how important a factor this is. Christians need to set up an environment conducive for comprehending God’s truth, evaluating their lives, and adjusting according to the truth revealed. We are not victims, but conquerors, and we need to set up our physical lives to maximize both our absorption of truth and our ability to point to our Savior.

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Focus

 

And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”   Luke 7:48-50 (ESV) I wonder what Jesus is thinking. People, whom He created, wondering why He can forgive sins. The creation questioning the Creator. Yet Jesus carries on in spite of them. In fact, Jesus seemed to carry on in spite of everyone at times. His cross to bear was the cross and He would go there, die, come back to life, and fulfill the mission the Father sent Him on, regardless of the crowd, the criticism, and the chaos it caused. Jesus focused on His purpose. He was the truth and the life, and acted in accordance with what was true. I need to do the same.

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Overwhelmed

 

A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”"    Luke 7:41-43 (ESV) In order to enjoy God, we must have a correct view of ourselves. We are sinful, deserving of eternal punishment. God does not need us, but wants us, and our salvation has nothing to do with us, and everything to do with Him. Those who can grasp their own depravity are positioned to grasp and appreciate the mercy and grace of Almighty God. Those who think God is fortunate to have them in His family, or somehow think they have earned a position as His child, will never comprehend the immensity of mercy and grace. It’s far better to be overwhelmed by God’s mercy and grace because we understand our depravity than to be academically aligned with them due to our intellect. If we have never been overwhelmed with God’s mercy, we have never understood our depravity, and, in reality, can never enjoy God.

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