Expect It!

By: Kathie Welch

Friday, April 4, 2025

...Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:39 (ESV)

In Luke 8:26-56, Jesus miraculously changes three lives. He freed a man who was demon-possessed and healed a woman who suffered for 12 years from hemorrhagic bleeding, a condition no one could heal. Both of them were cast out from all social interaction. Then at the end of chapter 8, He brought the daughter of a synagogue official back to life. God's Word doesn’t tell us how these three people's lives affected their world, but I imagine their changed lives had an impact. It is likely the "Jesus effect" spilled over, affecting the lives of everyone who met them and heard their stories of dramatic healing!

Modern day Christ followers must still heed the words Jesus spoke to that demon possessed man, "declare how much God has done for you.” We probably weren't demon possessed, but Jesus has dramatically changed all of our lives too! Like that man, Jesus expects us to share our changed life story with others (Psalm 66:16). Recent world events should remind us that end times are always near. It's sad, but there are many people around us who do not have the eternal hope Jesus provides. We need to fine-tune our focus and ask God to use us to share His Good News with others. When we open ourselves up to God’s wisdom and step out in simple, even faltering obedience, God will do even more than we can imagine in the lives of others.

Consider your personal history with God. How many times has He used unexpected people at unexpected times in unexpected places to minister to you? How many times has God led you to an unlikely, unknown person and done unexpected things for them through you? You don’t need to be a Bible expert to effectively communicate the gospel. You don't a counseling degree to encourage other Christ followers. God delights in using ordinary, obedient people to bring about unexpected results. He loves to do this in our lives and in the lives of others.

God is able to do much more than we ask or think through His power working in us. Ephesians 3:20 (NLV)

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you fine-tune your focus and filter out distractions. Be open and obedient to His leading. People around you need the changed life Jesus offers. Be a witness wherever God has placed you and share your Jesus story with others. Trust God to do more than you can imagine, in fact, expect it!