Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum.  When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach.  The people were amazed at his teaching for he taught with real authority - quite unlike the teachers of religious law. 

Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit began shouting, "Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth?  Have you come to destroy us?  I know who you are - the Holy One sent from God!" 

Jesus cut him short, "Be quiet!  Come out of the man," he ordered.  At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him. 

Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened, "What sort of new teaching is this? they asked excitedly.  "It has such authority!  Even evil spirits obey his orders!"  (Mark 1:21-27)

If there are no rules or supervision for children, they feel uncertain and insecure.  Children in environments like this spend too much of their time and energy trying to figure out what to do and not do. They are not free to learn and grow as they would with the security and certainty of appropriate rules and supervision.

God loves us so much that he sent Jesus to teach us the ways of the Kingdom of God so that we can be free to grow in love and enjoy life with certainty and security.  Jesus taught with an authority that was unlike other teachers of the law because he is the authority of God - even the evil spirits recognized this.

This passage from the Gospel of Mark helps us understand two things about Jesus. 

1. Jesus wants to teach us about the Kingdom of God.  He used everyday things and events to teach people what the Kingdom of God is like.  There are teachable moments in our lives when we seek God for answers to why things happen.  We can always ask Jesus what he wants to teach us through a particular situation.  It can be through our struggles that we learn the most valuable lessons about the Kingdom of God.

2. Jesus offers us healing and wholeness.  We often seek God for physical healing, which is important, but our bodies are temporary.  Jesus also offers us an even greater healing - a wholeness for our souls, which is eternal. 

Out of God's love for us, Jesus invites us to be part of the Kingdom of God where there are appropriate rules and supervision to provide us with the freedom to learn and live and love.

ACTIONS FOR THIS WEEK:
Commit or recommit your life to Jesus Christ, thanking him for being your Lord and Savior.

Example prayer:  "Jesus, I place my whole life under your Lordship.  All that I am and all that I have, I offer to you for your glory.  Teach me the ways of the Kingdom of God and heal my life.  Amen"