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Healing a soul is far more difficult

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus,” Luke‬ ‭5:17-18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Any day the experts and critics show up for you to speak is a good day to really focus on your mission. Luke tells us that all these people just “show up” and hangout nearby. THEY’RE thinking, “keep your enemies closer.” Thankfully God’s power was there for healing. And funny enough, the word Luke uses for healing, iaomai, is generally used for physical healing, but it is also used for spiritual healing. Interesting, right?

All the planning by these men was to get a friend to Jesus because he was paralyzed. All the clamor to climb up and crash through the roof was these friends wanting this man to experience a full life on two legs that worked. All that work, all that commotion for what?

Luke says that Jesus took one look at the paralyzed man as well as the generous amount of faith from the man’s friends. But then, Jesus must have caught the look in the religious’ folks eyes. And in that moment Jesus decided to direct God’s power into healing this man’s soul – he forgave him of his sins!

I am positive that Jesus had to hold back his joyous reaction to the shocked look on EVERYONE’S face!

The man who was healed must have heaved in relief from whatever he had been secretly carrying. The friends must have experienced a flood of feelings. Maybe they knew the man’s past. For sure they didn’t see anything like that coming. And oh, the looks on the faces of the Pharisees – PRICELESS.

The experts quickly ask the perfect question, “who does he think he is?” Then they answer their own question without realizing it. “Only God can forgive sin.” Yep, Jesus doesn’t think he’s God, he knows he’s God.

What a Jesus thing to do! He wanted to deal with the man’s soul first (which is much harder than healing a couple of legs). It is so EASY for God to physically heal a body, because he created our bodies from dirt! But getting us to cough up our sin, to turn from our selfish, arrogant independence and run to truth and into the Father’s arms – that is incredibly difficult.

Jesus woo’d a soul out of darkness and gave him a glimpse of the freedom as his sin was lifted, taken from him. Young man you are forgiven.

The religious grumbled at the invisible, but palpable power of authority Jesus commanded in that room. Jesus spoke their thoughts out loud. Then in the next moment answered everyone’s prayer. Stand up, you are healed. The paralyzed man was happy, his friends happy, the crowd watching were pumped. And the religious, well they also were happy because they got the proof they needed to put Jesus to death – Jesus claimed to be God.

PRAYER:

Dad,
Wow. What a day that was. What a moment of beauty. What an amazing story of clarity of mission. Jesus came to save the sinner, to heal the sick and broken, to show us who you are and your great love and mercy towards us. What will life be like without sin? What will this renewed, recreated Earth be like without the curse upon it? What will heaven be like with no adversary, no lies, no deceit? I can only imagine.

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Is comparison a bad mental game to play?

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“I said to myself, “I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will hold my tongue when the ungodly are around me.” But as I stood there in silence— not even speaking of good things— the turmoil within me grew worse. The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words:” Psalms‬ ‭39:1-3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

David decides to play this game of comparing his life to the life of the unjust, the ungodly. From time to time, in his rise to power and running for his life, he looks around at the wicked and says out loud, “why do they get all the breaks?” “Why do the wicked always win?” In this humorous song, he decides “I’ll just keep my mouth shut and quit complaining and quit comparing my life to theirs.” Ah, but capping or stuffing the thoughts in his head only seemed to boil over and out into a hot mess of fiery words! Geez, the games we play in our head are bound to come leaking out in our words. David thinks, and we think, we can just stop, or steer those words into something useful. But the game of comparison is NOT played out in our words, it’s played in our hearts! And, if we’re going to stop the game from consuming our minds, we have to do so where it starts.

Comparison is a horrible game to play! It’s a devil’s dark game of seeing ourselves better or often worse than someone by guessing at their outcomes. We see someone’s promotion or hear someone’s accolades and seethe. We read of someone’s downfall or failure and we gloat.

When we play this game we always lose. Why? We are only seeing a completely disconnected, parenthetical moment of time. We don’t see the beginning, nor the end. We don’t even see the middle. We just see a glimpse of fame, fortune or promotion on the pedestal and think that represents a whole life. And in that fraction of feelings, we are jealous or proud.

Oh, and if we know or think they are wicked or evil it’s worse in our head because our brains just start firing justice triggers like crazy. We start screaming the same fiery words David did – “evil never deserves a reward!” I appreciate David’s honesty, but I think he should have and we should quit playing the game altogether.

Stop it before it starts. As a believer we should only be looking at our life, our walk, our splinters and gold stars in comparison to Christ and his purpose for our life. When we see others succeed we should be happy for them. When they fall or hurt, we should grieve with them. And when evil seems to triumph through a truly wicked person, we should bring them to God to judge wisely.

PRAYER:

Dad,
Far too often I’ve played this game and I always lose. Someone succeeds, does better than me, or rewarded for my idea – it happens and I have hard time with it. And, for those that are struggling, I find myself thinking, “I’m glad that’s not me…” Ouch. I am so sorry that I get sucked into these. Help me keep my eyes on you and be thankful for everything you’ve done in my life and everything you’ve given me as well. Help me not to compare to others!

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Thank God for the Apostle Paul

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.” Romans‬ ‭2:13-15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

He was raised and trained in all things Jewish. And he mitigates the complex understanding of how God brought the story of salvation to and through the Jewish people. Yet, God does not hold Gentiles (us) to the complicated, but necessary, adherence to the details of the Law, he’s given us a new and better way.

We were not given God’s written law, nor his blood covenant he made with Abraham. We were given a new law, written on/in our hearts and a blood covenant made and paid for by Jesus. I can’t speak to the effectiveness of God’s law written and remembered by the Jews, but I can speak to the law written on the Gentile’s heart.

God has made himself abundantly clear to every Jew and non-Jew on the planet. He has and is doing so through his creation itself, life’s circumstances (across ALL cultures) and even in the still quiet places of dreams and visions.

I have been talking to a wonderful Vietnamese woman who cuts my hair about God. She went through a lot of struggles with her shop because of the pandemic and our Governor’s attempt to crush small businesses. I told her I prayed that God would do a miracle and get her out of a large lease space that the owner would not release her from and move her into the much smaller space next door. God did the miracle for her and she was thankful. Yesterday when I got another hair cut, I noticed that she was having a conversation with a woman who is also a believer and the gal was so sweet and kind to the shop owner. I remembered, God is ALWAYS working in people and whispering in someone’s ear about how much he loves them! I know she will come to faith in Jesus because of this verse Paul is writing to the Romans. And, we get to be a part of that. On any given day at any given time, our joy is to say yes to God about using us to love, tell our story and just be the light of Christ in someone’s dark place in their life.

PRAYER:

Dad,
I’m glad to see these things explained by Paul in your word. Because, that’s how it happened in my own life. And yes, you used a number of situations and people to get me to a quiet but frustrating place in my life. A place where I recognized just how chaotic and dark my life was and how you were offering a new future. I am so thankful that all the WORK is done by you and we just get the chance to participate with you in seeing people come from death to life! May it be so more often in me and my friends.

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God will always find our conspiracies

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“Again the Lord spoke to me and said, “I have discovered a conspiracy against me among the people of Judah and Jerusalem. They have returned to the sins of their ancestors. They have refused to listen to me and are worshiping other gods. Israel and Judah have both broken the covenant I made with their ancestors.” Jeremiah‬ ‭11:9-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There is nothing hidden from God. And, of course, he knows our thoughts, our ways – everything about us from before we were born even all through our external existence.

He sees all, for all time, for everyone in a constant instance, a moment of continual present or NOW.

However, to talk about with Jeremiah or us for that matter, God says, “I’ve discovered” something. I read this like a Dad who has found fireworks contraband under my son’s mattress or my own Mom who thought she discovered Marijuana in a baggie in my desk (it was dried parsley, but it looked like drugs) long story.

God has these conversations with us as though he has expected such good from us, but alas, we’ve been secretly seeing another god. He tells Jeremiah about the plethora of very visible idols throughout the city.

They weren’t exactly hidden. In fact they were blatantly visible, like David’s son Absalom, having intimate relations with his father’s concubines on the roof. God says, look around – idols are everywhere! “you have as many gods as you have towns. You have as many altars of shame—altars for burning incense to your god Baal—as there are streets in Jerusalem.” It wasn’t as much a conspiracy as an outright rebellion.

God does tell Jeremiah something that has been consistent throughout all human history and it’s the hard part of our story – “They [we] actually rejoice in doing evil!” The only thing, the necessary thing for us to do is repent (turning 180°) from our sin. To have and a regular and ongoing admission of our natural desires to have our own way, a confession of those desires as well as the behaviors that follow. I would like to think that I am never trying to hide my sin from God nor for him to ever see it as a flaunting of rebellion against his law or love. I regularly sin, but I do not regularly rebel or openly display my idols in the cities and streets where I live.

PRAYER:

Dad,
It makes it especially egregious to think of my sin as any means of taking on another love like some kind of adulterous affair. I so want to be loyal and grateful for the relationship, the covenant you have made with me. Of course, I hate that fact that my sin, my thoughts and behaviors would EVER be seen as a public display of rebellion against you. You know my weaknesses, you know my faults and shortcomings, you see my heart. Even still I come before you humbly in repentance and confession, not pretending that I have no sin not that I do not sin. Thank you for your Word and thank you for your Holy Spirit who calls me to obedience!

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The day he quit his job to work for God!

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.” Luke‬ ‭5:8-11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What a legacy Peter had as he would tell his family, his children and friends when they would later get together telling stories as the church gathered around the love feast (communion).

From the very beginning to the bitter end, then to a miraculous sendoff of Jesus. Jesus just doesn’t do normal! I mean, who recruits followers like this? In fact, who recruits leaders of future apostles and church fathers like this? It’s been said so many times, but Jesus found common, middle class, hard working guys and converted them to super miracle workers, church planters, authors and martyrs. Yeah maybe Matthew had some money, but he was such a social outcast being a money guy working for the Roman government.

And talk about worldly guys! Peter and his crew were both sailors and fishermen. You’ve heard the sailor stories and seen Deadliest Catch. These guys were tough, hardened, calloused
-hands kind of people. However, it’s interesting to note that Jesus was NOT intimidated by rough dudes, maybe hard hands do not mean hard hearts?

Luke tells us Jesus steps out onto Peter’s boat like a lost tourist. He then casually asks Peter to push away from shore a little. Then, like a totally noob, tells him to push out further and let down his nets again. Notice, Luke had already told us Jesus found the guys CLEANING those nets – they were DONE.

Peter respectfully protests, being the expert in his own trade, “Jesus, it’s been a hard days night, and I’ve been working like a dog!” Yet, he did as Jesus asked. Peter and the whole bunch must have been trying to figure out what kind of Rabbi behaves like this guy. He’s not normal!

I think they were tired, and in shock trying to understand what was going on. What was this guy’s angle? What was he selling? What did he want? What kind of religion does this guy represent?

Maybe Jesus caught them on that one really bad day that everyone has, when they say, “what are we doing?” Or, “What is life all about?” Or, “Why are we killing ourselves over fish?” Maybe it was one of those mornings where the whole gang was thinking, “what if we quit and did something else?”

Then “coincidentally” this strange Rabbi walks up and speaks and acts in such a way that the fishermen become WOKE – super woke to life and purpose. Woke to what life could be, what it should be. Jesus words and the miracle of their “retirement” catch of fish was just enough for the guys to make a decision to quit their jobs and work for God! Luke writes, “As soon as they landed… they left EVERYTHING and followed Jesus.”

PRAYER:

Dad,
I was nowhere as far as the first followers in my pursuit of life or career. I hadn’t even graduated High School. However, when I said “Yes” to following you, it only took a couple of years to begin to reformat my entire future to do whatever you asked of me. Sure, I didn’t feel qualified – I wasn’t qualified. Sure, I felt conscientious about any kind of “religious” calling or preparation. My “people” didn’t come from any spiritual stock. I had no godly folk in my family going back several generations. I was the first of my kind to even think about going into “ministry.” Most of my family thought that I would go into some kind of priest training and a monastery life. They didn’t know and neither did I. They also thought I got caught up in some kind of religious cult or maybe I was going through some kind of “youthful” season of finding myself. I know it surprised all of them that it stuck and it was real. Now some 45 years later, I’m still following you in a calling and purpose that I never grew out of. Instead I just continue to grow into it. So, thank you for “randomly” showing up in my life and simply saying, “come on… follow me.”

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Singing is an extraordinary gift

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.” Psalms‬ ‭105:1-2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

​Sing to him. Yes, sing his praises. Have you ever thought about it? Singing, making a melody and giving that to song to God. Does everyone feel comfortable singing? CAN everyone sing?

Humans are not the only species to make melodies. Birds sing all the time, but mostly when they feel they are safe. Dogs sing, cats sing, whales, dolphins and donkeys sing. We had a dog that, in certain moods, sounded like she was singing the blues!

I have a strange habit that I’ve developed over the years. I hum without being aware of it. Oftentimes, I’ll be with a group of people praying and someone will nudge me and say, “you know you’re humming, right?” I didn’t know. I seem to do it unconsciously.

Do you sing in the car? The shower? In a group? At church? It’s not at all like talking to yourself! Even though some feel self conscious about singing, it’s perfectly acceptable and often welcomed – even in a crowd of people. You’ve seen the videos of someone on a subway just singing away, sometimes others just join in!

Here’s the thing, as people we get the privilege of putting words to our songs and melodies. Many of the Psalms we read were songs to be sung. In times of joy and in times of fear, my mind has reached into my memories and sang a psalm to express what I’m feeling at that time.

What song comes to mind when you think about how good God is to you? 🎶🎶🎶 “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever.”

Jesus even made a very stark musical remark when he told the Pharisees if his disciples had kept silent, the rocks themselves would cry out. Luke used the word “krázō – an onomatopoetic term for a raven’s piercing cry.” Because all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God! In perfect Jesus style he was saying, “We should be embarrassed if we DON’T sing about God!” For us humans, singing is and should be as normal and natural as breathing!

An old song put it this way, you can sing it if you know it: “I sing because I’m happy; I sing because I’m free; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me.”

PRAYER:

Dad,
I’m pretty sure I didn’t sing much or not at all before I knew you. I thought songs were interesting, but I don’t remember singing them. And, thankfully I married a singer who loves to sing and express her love and thankfulness to you constantly. Remember, the first time I saw her, she was singing a solo in big church and I was smitten! David’s Psalm reminds and challenges me to sing more, express more about your greatness and your goodness. I think I’ll sing my way to the office today, no radio, no yelling at traffic – just singing. What a privilege we have to sing, make melodies and songs expressing deep feelings towards about you and even towards you.

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Don’t be like the ancients

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, “The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.” And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day. Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:6-11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

​Here we have Paul giving us a great example of how a well trained, former Pharisee interprets an ancient passage of scripture from Exodus. I read Exodus and see lessons of Old Testament theology and practical advice for living while looking through the lens of Jesus’ saving grace.

Not so much with Paul. Paul tells the church in Corinth – it’s a WARNING. Paul gives the text the same amount of veracity that Moses gave when he wrote it! I see the Old Testament as a little outdated. Paul sees it as current. My sense of context is therefore dulled by a distorted view of grace when I do this with scripture. Paul’s high TRUTH, high LOVE compels him to admonish (warn & encourage) the modern, metropolitan church filled with a city bursting with immoral opportunity to sin!

Paul starts with our commonality with the ancient wanderers (same baptism, same food and water, same God) and writes, “Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.” Paul – haven’t you read “what’s so amazing about grace?” Don’t you know that God isn’t mad at us and we live in a very long season of mercy? Oh, Paul knows alright. He wrote much, if not most of the theology on the topic of God’s grace. But it’s never an excuse to sin more! And, Paul never throws shade on God’s holiness, wrath or judgment?

Paul tells the Church, don’t be like the ancients in these areas: partying, feasting and drinking, indulging in pagan revelry. Don’t engage in sexual immorality, don’t TEST Christ [mercy], and don’t grumble. Paul suggests that these human behaviors only INCREASE as the end approaches! God’s grace covers my sin, but will never accommodate my sin!

PRAYER:

Dad,
I am thankful for your word. I am thankful for Pastor Paul who’s words still preach about holiness and godliness. I am thankful for your Holy Spirit to lead away from temptation not towards it, who leads me in confession of sin, not denial of it. I am thankful for your mercy. I am also thankful for your wrath – your pure sense of justice for all wrongs, not just the ones I agree with. I am most thankful for your grace that came at the ultimate price of death of the Son who was completely innocent and perfect.

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God wouldn’t travel with them

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“Go up to this land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I did, I would surely destroy you along the way.” When the people heard these stern words, they went into mourning and stopped wearing their jewelry and fine clothes. For the Lord had told Moses to tell them, “You are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I were to travel with you for even a moment, I would destroy you. Remove your jewelry and fine clothes while I decide what to do with you.” So from the time they left Mount Sinai, the Israelites wore no more jewelry or fine clothes.” Exodus‬ ‭33:3-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

​I’m sorry, but reading this first part reminds me of every long road trip I’ve taken when my children were small. Oh, I wanted to go and I wanted to arrive, but in between… I thought, for sure, one of them was gonna die!

There is SO MUCH going on here in this conversation with Moses and the people of Israel. And, I never forget – we are just like Israel in so many ways. I don’t know what’s going on here with the whole “fashion show” mentality among the people with their jewelry and fancy clothes. If God hated that he must get a real kick out of all our entertainment shows (Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes & Grammys).

It’s kinda ironically sad that God didn’t want to be seen associating with whatever nonsense the people were into. He was like, “oh, I’m not with them!” It’s pretty strong to say, “if I have to… for even a moment… I’d destroy you.” The people must have been adorned with more than just gold, they were dripping with aires of arrogance. They continued to carry the cultural moniker of “stiff-necked” stubborn people.

Maybe it wasn’t ALL of them, maybe it was just the rich or former royals in the bunch, but it made God angry to be around while they flaunted their sin.

It was an act of mercy for God NOT to travel with them, he literally and physically couldn’t stand the sin and seeing it would mean immediate judgement and justice – no one would survive a trip with God. A regular visit with Moses and a dispatched angel would have to suffice. God was about to lay down some laws, some boundaries to temporarily make it possible to get through ALL OF HISTORY and put up with us until Jesus’ sacrifice and death for sin’s payment once and for all.

PRAYER:

Dad,
I get it. It’s hard to imagine how tolerant your grace and mercy is towards us as humans. It’s hard to grasp how patient you are with our sin. I don’t like my sin either, by the way. I know if the whole scene in the garden were reset and each of us faced the same circumstances we would choose to disobey, and step over the boundaries set to keep us safe and sinless. But you also created us with this drive, this craving of independence, this self will to choose you. And you created us in a war zone, a planet were Satan was thrown down to make his miserable existence. The garden may have been perfect but the earth already had an evil presence just aching to take out his revenge on you. So, yes, I’ve chosen to love you and trust you even when you found me broken in my own sin, unaware that there was a war or that I was at risk of following my own path away from you. However, I also know you’ve chosen me, rescued me and redeemed me. So, I can’t wait to find out what a world without sin even looks like. My imagination can’t even begin to fathom it.

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Co-Signing a loan is super risky!

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“My child, if you have put up security for a friend’s debt or agreed to guarantee the debt of a stranger— if you have trapped yourself by your agreement and are caught by what you said— follow my advice and save yourself, for you have placed yourself at your friend’s mercy. Now swallow your pride; go and beg to have your name erased. Don’t put it off; do it now! Don’t rest until you do. Save yourself like a gazelle escaping from a hunter, like a bird fleeing from a net.” Proverbs‬ ‭6:1-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This proverb falls under an NLT heading of “Lessons for Daily Life.”

I should have paid better attention to this advise from ancient wisdom writers. If you ever wondered how some advice given back in ancient times could possibly guide someone today just keep reading.

I had read this proverb as a youth. There was a problem then. I was broke and could not see myself EVER being in a position of loaning someone money or having a credit rating that would or could guarantee someone else’s loan. And, I didn’t understand this concept of co-signing a loan back then, but I sure do now.

Fact, if you ever co-sign on a loan, you better just be ready to see it as a gift! I’ve done this a few times in my lifetime. One for a young friend and the others for our children. The co-signing on a child’s loan is up to you. One of our child’s was a school loan and we (Robin and I) would have gladly payed it if we could afford it. So, we took on the risk and that loan will be paid off in a couple of months. Whew.

The other one was a rollercoaster ride of stress and could have been a complete financial disaster that my friends could have never foreseen. That co-signed loan went sideways. It grew in size because it was delayed in payment twice. In other words, if the student is still in school or has financial difficulties making the monthly payment after graduation or asks for extensions, the loan payment is paused but keeps accruing interest. This loan ballooned to twice the amount originally borrowed! And, as a co-signer, I was equally on the hook for it. It also deeply effected our credit score (you know the one I didn’t have or care about when I was younger). At one point I had to manage both co-signs in regards to our credit score! Let’s just say it was super stressful and I was praying for my friend to regularly make his payments.

NOTE: Not knowing the consequences did not save me from almost ruining our financial future. And, that’s the point of this proverb really. The warning(s) seems so silly, so far-fetched, futuristic, so old man/Dad-advise when you’re young.

This is one area I beg people to listen to! The phrase, “if you trapped yourself” haunted me for many years because of the one co-signed moment. It was so easy to sign the paperwork. It was so easy to want my friend to get into the school, get a great education and be a hero in his life. None of those feelings were there when we almost could qualify for a home loan!

God was merciful to us and our friend. He was eventually able to make the payments on time and eventually paid off the loan! I was so thrilled, so relieved and so proud of him – all at the same time. Would I do it again? Absolutely not!

People still co-sign for friends thinking they are helping them get the degree, get the car, get the house. I can’t believe it! This proverb is still true, and often it’s still ignored with horrible consequences. I know how hard it is to say “no” as well. The person is so sincere and can prove their need for the loan. They can’t figure out why someone won’t let them “borrow” your credit, your reputation and your future to pay if that loan defaults! And, trust me, it may not be for the amount loaned at the time. It may be double or triple that amount because of delays or missed payments in the life of the loan. If you aren’t in a position to outright GIVE someone the money, DO NOT co-sign for them.

Have you co-signed a friend’s loan? How did it turn out?

PRAYER:

Dad,
Your grace and mercy in this area has been so generous. It turned out well, but I would not have done it if I had known the true cost of co-signing! Thank you for the lessons from proverbs.

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A demon goes to church one day

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“Then Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue every Sabbath day. There, too, the people were amazed at his teaching, for he spoke with authority. Once when he was in the synagogue, a man possessed by a demon—an evil spirit—cried out, shouting, “Go away! Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. At that, the demon threw the man to the floor as the crowd watched; then it came out of him without hurting him further.” Luke‬ ‭4:31-35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One day a demon and the Son of God walk into a church. In older movies, evil is portrayed as mystically being afraid of going into “holy” places or crossing thresholds of good. Along with the symbols and odd objects writers thought would repel or put fear in an agent of evil, the idea is that Satan knows his boundaries and certainly cannot have access to or reside in a space that’s been dedicated to God. Well Luke and the other gospel writers told us thousands of years ago – none of that is true.

Evil spirits, can and will inhabit humans and pretty much go anywhere they want and cause problems and suffering anytime they can.

We should learn truth from the Bible because God is the creator of all things and tells us about things we should be aware of in His word. None of these stories of evil or demonic possession are to be given any more attention than necessary. The point of these stories isn’t to highlight demons or sickness or really even healing. The point of the story is who Jesus is – God in flesh and all authority and power is at his disposal to do the will of his father.

In this story, Luke tells us there was a demon in church that day and had full control of a human being. The demon used the man to shout out its questions and concerns, and the questions are pretty telling. “Why are you interfering?” Like they owned the place – and the man himself. And, “Have you come to destroy us?” They knew their destiny was destruction, but had no sense of when it would happen. Then the confession – “I know who you are.”

That was enough talking so Jesus commanded it to come out of the man. Then after one more dramatically staged protest, throwing the man to the ground, out he comes. Luke adds another interesting note, “without hurting him further.”

Folks wickedly romanticize these interactions with demons or agents of the enemy. They highlight “deals” or “promises” being made to give power, fame or money. The Biblical writers write truth – the enemy’s plan is always the same – killing, stealing and destroying. Anyone who toys with demons ALWAYS gets a prison sentence of death.

The New Testament folks were far smarter and aware of these physical, spiritual interactions of demons and the human soul. We, as westerners, just pretend that evil entities are psychological states of mind and are basically emotional manifestations of our wounds from our origin stories.

We are such fools to ignore the realities of a personal, evil entity at war with God and humans. We just prescribe drugs and group therapy! I’m sure that those who actually have a demon controlling them are frustrated that we keep medicating their bodies without treating their soul. Our modern streets seemed to be filled with these Zombies that wander, hopelessly waiting to be free.

PRAYER:

Dad,
I’ve seen these hopeless victims, not in our churches (although some are probably there), but in the streets of my own city. My heart breaks for them. I pray, sometimes I give them food or money, not to “further” their addictions or illusions, but to let them know that I care and trust that a moment of hope transfers in my words. I want to give them so much more – life, hope, freedom, love. Lord, please continue to lead and direct me to be bold and compassionate just like Jesus.