Believe Only – Luke 8 Encouragement
Greetings,
I hope you’ll read Luke 8, it holds so much truth – It is a light on a lampstand. (Luke 8:16) But one theme jumps out at me from each story – the world as a whole does not understand and even rejects the things of God.
“…good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.” (Luke 8:15) When you hear the word, do you believe it and hold it fast? (Or, like the world, do you say, “Yes, but…?”)
The disciples were in the boat with Jesus. A storm came and “they began to be swamped and to be in danger.” (Luke 8:23) Jesus “rebuked” the storm (see Dec. 4th Encouragement), it stopped, “And He said to them, ‘Where is your faith?’” (Luke 8:25) When you’re swamped or in danger, do you find faith? (Or, like the world, does fear grip you?)
A man was horribly demonized; naked, lived in tombs, and chains couldn’t hold him. Jesus set him completely free of the demons and when the people saw the man in clothes and in his right mind “all the people of the country of the Gerasenes and the surrounding district asked Him [Jesus] to leave them, for they were gripped with great fear;” (Luke 8:37) Do you know your authority and exercise faith to cast out demons? (Or, like the world, are you fearful of the power of God that heals and sets free those who suffer from demonic oppression?)
Jesus said to the woman who was healed of hemorrhaging for 12 years, “Daughter, your faith has made you well;” (Luke 8:48) When Jairus’ daughter had died but Jesus said that she was asleep “they began laughing at Him,” (Luke 8:53) Will you, in faith, command the sick to be healed and even the dead to be raised? (Or, like the world, do you, out of fear, just believe what you see in the natural and that the supernatural is even laughable?)
So, here’s the Encouragement: “So take care how you listen;” (Luke 8:18) Just like Jesus said to Jairus, “Only Believe!” (Luke 8:50)
God bless,
Dave