I
need to go beyond the flannel graph and remind myself that what I am
reading is not just a story. It is an account of an actual event in a
real person’s life. It happened. As I read and think about these
very real people, the judgements come easily. I need to put myself
into their story and then question whether I would have acted any
differently or even if I am acting any differently right now.
Let
me give you an example of what I mean. We were recently reading in
Luke 8 the account of “the healing of a demon possessed man”
(vs. 26-38). Briefly, the story is this: Jesus and his disciples
cross a lake & find a man who is demon possessed and lives in a
graveyard. Jesus delivers him. Pigs die. People come to see what has
happened. They see the man completely changed. They are afraid. Here
is the part that makes me wonder what was wrong with these people.
“then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus
to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So He got into
the boat and left.” (vs. 37)
People
– what were you thinking!! You sent Jesus away? Couldn’t you see
the difference that he made and that it was good? Had you grown so
accustomed to and so comfortable with the man living among the tombs,
that to see him whole was too much of a change? What did you fear?
Did you fear that Jesus might change you?
After
I get over my frustration with these people then I feel sad for them.
What did they miss by sending Jesus away? What amazing, life changing
things could have been done for them, in them and through them?
Next,
I must put myself in their place. What would my response have been?
What is my response today? When Jesus shows me a change that needs to
happen in my heart or in my life, do I always trust or is fear my go
to reaction? Fear that the change will be too big. Fear of the
reaction of those around me. I may not give voice to my thoughts but
am I saying, like the people of the Gerasenes, ‘not here Jesus –
not now. Off you go. I can manage.’
Two
verses come to mind. Verses that I have heard often and repeated
often but verses that still need to be repeated until we get the
truth of them settled deep into our hearts.
Romans
8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of
those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Jer.
29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans
to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.”
Can
I encourage you to embrace the change? Embrace the plan – God’s
plan for you. It might startle a few folks. If the alternative is
that Jesus gets into the boat and leaves….well, is that really an
alternative that you want to consider?
Dear
ones, we can trust Him. He is absolutely, completely trustworthy. All
His plans are for your good. All of them.
Ruth
Yes, He is absolutely completely trustworthy!
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