October 2012 Thought of the Month...
This is the month where most people seem to celebrate Halloween. My thought for this time would be from Luke 4, verses 40 and 41: 'At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of illness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, 'You are the Son of God!' But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.'
So, even the demons acknowledge Jesus' authority and status as the Son of God - how much more should we? Perhaps I was thinking about this because of the origins or nature of Halloween - celebrating the existence and influence of bad spirits in our lives. Perhaps we do not think about it that seriously, but I at least think that we should make a bigger deal out of All Saints' Day (November 1st). This is the day that all of the saints (all Christians), including our patron saints rise up to crush the rebellion (in theory - since the release of evil spirits on Halloween is also fictional). To wipe out every last demon, evil spirit and any other supernatural force that means us evil. Anything not of God, really. Wiping them out in the Name of Jesus :) ... I have always wondered why we do not celebrate this day, when we celebrate each individual patron saint's day, e.g. St David and St Patrick. I do admit that I have heard that this day was used for bad means in the past but we don't have to use it in that same way.
So, yeah, this is my thought. I would welcome your feedback :)
God bless, Jason
(In case you were wondering, I do not write this to condemn people for celebrating Halloween, as I used to celebrate it in the past and it seemed quite innocent - I just thought to raise a challenge and to question the state of things in our society - as well as to remind people that Jesus has authority over all things including demons and evil spirits. At a time when being spooked is the intention of many films, costumes, etc this thought comforts me: that Jesus scares the demons).
So, even the demons acknowledge Jesus' authority and status as the Son of God - how much more should we? Perhaps I was thinking about this because of the origins or nature of Halloween - celebrating the existence and influence of bad spirits in our lives. Perhaps we do not think about it that seriously, but I at least think that we should make a bigger deal out of All Saints' Day (November 1st). This is the day that all of the saints (all Christians), including our patron saints rise up to crush the rebellion (in theory - since the release of evil spirits on Halloween is also fictional). To wipe out every last demon, evil spirit and any other supernatural force that means us evil. Anything not of God, really. Wiping them out in the Name of Jesus :) ... I have always wondered why we do not celebrate this day, when we celebrate each individual patron saint's day, e.g. St David and St Patrick. I do admit that I have heard that this day was used for bad means in the past but we don't have to use it in that same way.
So, yeah, this is my thought. I would welcome your feedback :)
God bless, Jason
(In case you were wondering, I do not write this to condemn people for celebrating Halloween, as I used to celebrate it in the past and it seemed quite innocent - I just thought to raise a challenge and to question the state of things in our society - as well as to remind people that Jesus has authority over all things including demons and evil spirits. At a time when being spooked is the intention of many films, costumes, etc this thought comforts me: that Jesus scares the demons).
