Home > Reading > The Daily Lectionary – October 17, 2016

luke8-39

Today’s readings: Hosea 11:12–12:1; Acts 26:1–23; Luke 8:26–39

Are you afraid of what Jesus might do to you? It is a fair question. We get comfortable within our habits and behaviors. We can be fearful of the change the Lord brings into our lives. It is difficult to surrender to God’s will.

Sometimes we have no choice, like the demon possessed man in today’s Gospel reading. He confronted Jesus when he came ashore. Jesus did an exorcism because the man was terrorizing the inhabitants. Jesus had the power to control this Legion of demonic behaviors. The demons begged the Lord to not send them to the abyss (hell), because even demons cannot stand the tortures of hell. They asked permission to go into the pig herd. They would rather be obliterated than to be tormented by Satan.

That ought to speak volumes to us, who think we do not want the Lord to change us. Just as the demon possessed man became used to living in his personal hell, we too sometimes do not realize the “hell” we are creating. It is time to seek the cleansing of our personal “demons” and give our lives to Jesus!

Prayer: Lord, cleanse me through and through that I may be more like you. Amen.

Today’s devotion was written by Randy Conley, Pastor of Hope Lutheran Church in Hubbard Lake, MI.

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Tomorrow’s readings: Hosea 12:2–14; Acts 26:24–27:8; Luke 8:40–56