The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, “No, go back to your family and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him.
Luke 8:38-39

What’s your story?

Everybody has one. As we walk through life, with or without an awareness of God, we collect experiences. We collect moments that impact us. Some are good. Some are really hard. What does your list of moments look like? What genre is your story? For some, life is a comedy. Others, it’s a drama. For others still, it’s a mystery or an adventure.

No matter which category you put your story in, God is a part of it and has been for quite a while. For centuries, God has been pursuing humanity, restoring what’s broken, recovering what’s lost, and putting things back the way he intended.

The man healed from demon possession in this section of Luke understood that. He’d obviously been through a lot—I wonder what he was able to remember about life before a demon took him over. I’m no expert, but I’m willing to bet it felt like a whole new chapter when Jesus came along and set him free.

This was evident in his reaction. He desperately wanted to go with Jesus. He loved what Jesus gave him. He asked for more, but Jesus had something different in mind. He didn’t ask the man to sit and collect more religious experiences. He sent him out. He sent him back home. He sent him where people would see the change and get the word out about God’s kingdom taking root in his life.

He asks us to do the same, yet so many feel like they don’t have anything to offer. The reality is we all have something to share. God waits on us to take the next step. What next step is God calling you to take?

Reflection:

  • Reread Luke 8:1-39. Which of the characters in this passage have the most adventurous stories to tell?
  • What has God done for you?
  • What opportunities do you have to brag about God (and what he has done for you)? What would it look like to do it in a way that opens more conversation about God?