What’s In Your Heart?

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A woman sweeping the sidewalks in Armenia.


Scripture:


Luke 11:24   “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 When it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first.”


Observation:


Jesus had just exorcised a demon out of a man, but he realized that the people needed to learn more from this experience. To become a disciple was not just to walk away from a past, but to be filled with a new future. One could not just have the unclean spirit leave the person, but the person needed to have a new love or affection in their life. This great love of God so fills the life that there is no room for sin. 


The problem comes when an individual has the demons swept from their life, but Christ is not invited in. When there is no new presence in the life of an individual who has been healed, the spirits will return, creating a situation worse than had existed in the first place. 


Application:


Every heart is filled with love toward something or someone. This brief story by Jesus is intended to challenge his listeners to think about what occupies their lives. There is no safety in a place of indifference. You will either be for the Lord, or against him. Your heart will either be filled with love for Christ, or not. 


I think the frightening part of this story is that it doesn’t require an invitation for the house to be filled with the seven spirits. Actually, the house is swept and in order. It’s the person who feels like they are getting everything put together with their own power and authority who is in the most danger. When we begin to think that we can manage our lives without the presence of Christ, we will find ourselves in danger. If there is not a love or affection that fills our hearts, something will come and fill it. 


Love for God and neighbor are the hallmarks of the Spirit-filled life. This is what is to fill our heart, and only a filled heart can protect us from the evil one. This is what Christ wanted the disciples to know and understand. It was all — or nothing. What’s in your heart?


Prayer:


Lord, please, fill my heart to overflowing with your holy presence. Fill me to overflowing with your love so that I might splash some of that love on others today. Amen. 

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