March 15, 2010
Luke 8
Pastor Jeff Allen
Marked for life
Some time ago, I found myself standing before a leader, overwhelmed by feelings that I wasn’t good enough. I felt like who I was as a person wasn’t what people liked or wanted. From the leader’s perspective, there were a number of possible responses. Yet - sensing a prompting from the Holy Spirit - he simply said, “Let’s take a moment to pray and let’s talk tomorrow.”
I will never forget that moment. It was just the beginning of a God-encounter that would mark me for life. During that time, I experienced healing, peace, perspective, self-awareness and essentially…new life.
In Luke chapter 8, we read about several people who experienced God-encounters. Each one was unique to the individual and specific to his or her need. The disciples received spiritual insight, as well as peace, in the midst of a storm. A man was freed from oppression. A woman was healed from an incurable medical problem. A girl received new life.
Some of the encounters reported in this chapter were just moments in time, while others lasted much longer. Yet all were changed.
How about you? Does something need to change? Do you need spiritual insight? I pray that you will open yourself to experience encounters with God that will meet you at your point of need…and leave you marked for life.
Psalm 16:11 is Pastor Jeff’s favorite verse from God’s Word: “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”
