Luke - Your Kingdom ComeEsimerkki

Interrupted by Jesus

Imagine a small town on the shores of a lake. In this quaint village, a deeply troubled man is a constant disturbance to the residents. More than just a nuisance, this demon-possessed man is naked, living in a graveyard, and able to smash through chains and leg irons whenever he is bound. Can you imagine a more dysfunctional presence in a small community? 

Jesus shows up and interrupts their lives; he brings freedom and deliverance not only to this man but also to the entire community. The demons that once plagued the man have been sent into a herd of pigs that promptly rush off a steep bank and drown in the lake below. Jesus breaks the cycle of dysfunction in that town and leaves in its place freedom, peace, and order—establishing his kingdom on earth!

Yet, how did the townspeople respond? They were terrified by the change in the man, terrified by the chain of events, and begged Jesus to leave. 

Sometimes, we fear the unknown. We refuse to embrace change because it is uncomfortable. The townspeople were distressed over the loss of the herd, and would rather continue in the dysfunction of the plagued outcast than celebrate his deliverance. The dysfunction was comfortable, perhaps even predictable, but Jesus wanted them to experience something more significant. 

The same is true of our lives. When Jesus interrupts our lives to bring us freedom, we often balk at life adjustments we are forced to make. While these adjustments are often uncomfortable and unfamiliar, they are always for our ultimate good. 

Reflect

How do you react when God interrupts your life with changes that seem uncomfortable?

Pray

Lord Jesus, interrupt me at those junctures of my life where I have become comfortable in my sin.

Respond

Ask God to heal you of any addiction or dysfunction that causes you to miss the mark. 

Father, give me the strength and peace to embrace the changes you want to make in my life.