Our Emotional, Physical, And Spiritual Needs
I had every intention of writing about the woman who was forgiven a great debt of sin. in Luke 7. I love to talk about Jesus and God’s greatest gift of forgiveness. But the more I wrote, the more I knew this was not where God was leading me. So I turned the page and went to Luke 8. Several things caught my attention in this chapter.
First, there is the testimony of Mary, Joanna, and Susanna. Jesus healed them of evil spirits and infirmities (Luke 8:1-3). A significant part of Christ’s ministry focused on casting out demons and healing people.
Mary had seven demons cast out of her. Joanna had a connection to Herod. Earlier in a previous study the Herodians and the Pharisees plotted to destroy Jesus. Her miracle had to be significant for her to take such a bold stand. The Lord touch these women in such a profound way. These women are the first financial supporters of Jesus and His ministry.
Second, (Luke 4:4-15). The Parable of the Sower contains an important spiritual truth. Jesus wants us all to live healthy and productive lives for His glory. After Jesus finished speaking, the disciples were confused. What did this odd parable mean? Jesus gave them this explanation.
“The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:11-15 NKJV).
Reflection: The seed is the word of God. The sower is anyone who shares the Word of God and the message of God’s salvation. When the message is shared, the devil tries to take away the word from the hearts of those listening. It is sad when people reject the message of salvation.
The word of God contains more than the basic message of salvation. There are many great and precious promises for those who love Him and take the time to listen and follow Him. King David in the Old Testament hid the word of God in his heart so that he might not sin against God. (Psalms 119:11).
The word of God, like a small seed, is a significant part of our spiritual life and development. Have you taken the time, like David, to plant it in your heart and receive more of the blessings God wants for your life?
You may not see results right away. But keep planting and waiting patiently because, like a powerful seed, you will reap if you faint not. (Galatians 6:9).
The principle of Sowing and reaping involves more than the word of God. It also entails allowing God to change the way we act or think. It takes time, that’s why the last word of this parable is patience. See Galatians 5-6 for more information on sowing to the Spirit and the flesh. There is also a comprehensive list of the fruit of the Spirit and the fruit of the flesh. These are the qualities and different kinds of fruit He wants us to bear.
Third: There are three miracles in this chapter reveal His power to meet our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
(Luke 8:22-25). Jesus and His disciples got into a boat and headed across to the other side of the lake. Everything seemed to be going well; Jesus fell asleep. I can almost hear the birds singing. it was a calm and peaceful boat ride until a sudden windstorm threatened to sink their ship. The boat began to take on water. In great panic, the disciples went to Jesus. They thought they were going to die, but He rebuked the wind and raging waters. In a split second, the storm was gone, and it was calm again. The disciples couldn’t believe what they had seen. Jesus spoke to the wind and the waves, and they obeyed Him. Jesus saved the physical lives of the future leaders of His church. He also taught them a lesson in faith.
(Luke 8:26-39). After coming to the Gadarenes, Jesus and the disciples run into a demon-possessed man. He was a danger to himself and society. The town tried to lock him up and bound him with chains, but he broke the bonds and ran into the wilderness. Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to come out of him. The moment Jesus said this, the demons fell at his feet and begged Jesus not to be cast out of the country. They came out of the man, and a bunch of pigs ran and drowned in the water. I won’t pretend to know why this happened. Before he met Jesus, Mark 5:5 states, “he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.” After Jesus came into his life, he was clothed and in his right mind. He sat calm and peaceful at the feet of Jesus (Luke 8:35). Jesus and the disciples met his physical need for clothing. They helped him deal with his physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
(Luke 8:40-56). At first, I was tempted not to mention this miracle. The previous miracle seemed like a logical place to end. However, the fact that Jesus raised the daughter of a Synagogue ruler named Jairus. It was big news to the religious world, especially with Jesus moving away from the Synagogues and preaching on the road. The crowd of people wailing for the ruler’s daughter laughed at Jesus when he told them she was sleeping. But they got the shock of their lives when she came out to them. I hope this chapter has inspired you. Keep reaching out to Jesus. He cares about your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
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