Sunday June 23rd, 2019 2nd Sunday after Pentecost Luke 8:26-39
?they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. (verse 35)
What causes our lives to go off the rails these days? Many Christians I know would be reluctant to use the language of demons to explain what’s going on. We feel more comfortable with the language of mental illness-depression or stress, psychotic break or schizophrenia-or maybe addiction. But from time to time, to lesser or greater degrees, many, if not most of us, have had some experience of life just going off the rails, even if we haven’t ended up naked in a public place.
The man in this text found himself in a hopeless, helpless place until he encountered Jesus. And rather than focus on the spectacular details of the story, I want to focus on the reality that it was Jesus who took a man who had literally lost himself and brought him to a place of restoration and wholeness.
This is a text that gives hope and direction for those times when my life seems to be unraveling a little. It reminds me that I can look to Jesus, cast my cares on him, and trust that Jesus is the one who can bring me back to a place of sanity in the midst of life’s craziness.
Lord, today let me sit at your feet and find my wholeness in you. Amen. — CN
Contributed by Restored to sanity
What causes our lives to go off the rails these days? Many Christians I know would be reluctant to use the language of demons to explain what's going on. We feel more comfortable with the language of mental illness-depression or stress, psychotic break or schizophrenia-or maybe addiction. But from time to time, to lesser or greater degrees, many, if not most of us, have had some experience of life just going off the rails, even if we haven't ended up naked in a public place.
The man in this text found himself in a hopeless, helpless place until he encountered Jesus. And rather than focus on the spectacular details of the story, I want to focus on the reality that it was Jesus who took a man who had literally lost himself and brought him to a place of restoration and wholeness.
This is a text that gives hope and direction for those times when my life seems to be unraveling a little. It reminds me that I can look to Jesus, cast my cares on him, and trust that Jesus is the one who can bring me back to a place of sanity in the midst of life's craziness.
