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As I wrote in my previous post, I am reading through the gospel of Luke at the moment. What a delight to read that book word for word once again, and to marvel about the lessons Jesus taught while He was here on earth.
I keep reading chapters and sometimes a single verse that needs more pondering. I will share some of my thoughts and questions with you on this blog, in the hope that it will inspire you to take a fresh look at the old stories. Maybe you can invite someone to read together and meditate on His words.
In Luke 4:38-44 we can read how Jesus healed and delivered many people from diseases and demons. In verse 42 He rebuked the demons and did not allow them to speak. Luke writes that they were silent because they knew He was the Messiah. I had to read that over and over again. If demons know that Jesus is the anointed one, the Christ, the Messiah ... then how is it possible that many people do NOT know this? There are many so called Christians nowadays that have doubts about the identity of Jesus. Was He really the Son of God? Was He the promised Messiah or not?
At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.
What I have learned from this passage is that in the unseen world there is no room for doubt: angels know who Jesus is, the devil knows it and the demons know it. In the visible world many people are openly doubting His identity. Well, that is quite a dangerous thing to do, don't you think? One sentence only... and I encountered a question and a point to ponder:
QUESTION: How is it possible that demons know who Jesus is, and many people don't?
POINT TO PONDER: Knowing who Jesus is does not make us a Christian, for the devil and his demons know this too. Knowing who He is, is not the same as walking like He did. In 1 John 2:6 we can read: This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
Knowing and doing are two different things.
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning,his command is that you walk in love (2 John 1:6)
Marja: You raise a couple of good points to ponder.
ReplyDeleteIn my youth, we sang a song, "Everybody ought to know, everybody ought to know, everybody ought to know who Jesus us. He's the Lily of the Valley fairest of 10,000, the bright and morning sun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o5XQLpirf0
Wow, thank you Cecelia for that Youtube link. I love it!
DeleteThe enemy has done a masterful job of distracting us with the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). Many people have a hard time acknowledging the existence of God because they're lulled into thinking they don't need Him. What an amazing opportunity we've been given to share the Savior with others! Time to take what we know and put it into practice! Have a blessed week Marja!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Maria, thinking we need God... I was there at one point in my life, but thanks for His mercy I know better now.
DeleteGood things to ponder, Marja! I agree with Maria, I think the enemy has done a good job of distracting people with many things. I also wonder if demons are more attuned to the spiritual realm just because of their position. Not that we shouldn't be more attuned to it as well, for it truly is the real world - the one that matters most. Thanks so much for good food for thought!
ReplyDeleteHhhm, you're right Karen, they are more at home in the spiritual realm... but we should learn that too!
Delete"Knowing and doing are two different things."
ReplyDeleteI think that sums it up for me a lot of the time. Thanks for the gentle reminder. :O)
For me too, LOL!
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