Manage Your Emotional Energy Series

Manage Your Emotional Energy

YOLO Part 4

Luke 5:12-16

We are currently going through the message series: YOLO.

“You only live once.”

It is true that we only live once.

However, what does this imply?

We only live once, therefore, we must live our one and only life meaningfully.

In order to do that, three weeks ago, we thought about having a clear mission in life.

Two weeks ago, we thought about using our time wisely.

Last week, we thought about seizing the moment.

And today we will talk about managing our emotional energy.

Expressions of love have a powerful effect on people.

Acts of love have a powerful effect on us and others around us.

But the problem is we do not love and care for others often enough.

When we see people on the street, who are begging, we walk by or drive by.

When we see people on TV, who are in need, we turn the channel.

Of course, we love our spouse, children, parents, and close friends.

We may also love our co-workers, neighbors, and church members.

But I want you to ask this question honestly to yourself: Out of over 7 billion people in the world, how many of them do you really love?

10?

20?

30?

40?

50?

100?

If you are not sure, there is measurement that you can use.

That is… check how many people do you pray for?

It is because if you love and care for someone, then you will pray for them.

When we think in these terms, many of us have to admit that our love is extremely limited.

But why is that?

It is not because we do not want to love others.

The truth is… many of us feel frustrated and guilty because our love toward others is limited.

So, what is going on?

Obviously, there are many possible explanations for the limited love that we have.

However, the one that I want to focus on today is the one that has caused trouble in my life and in lives of many others whom I talked to.

It has to do with energy management.

More specifically, it has to do with emotional energy management.

Most of us are familiar with the importance of money management, time management, or relationship management.

But people do not talk about the importance of emotional energy management.

I learned this lesson the hard way.

I learned that mismanaging our emotional energy can cause our love to be limited.

Jesus knew this very well.

Even though Jesus was 100% God, He was also 100% man while He was here on earth.

Because of this, He had to manage His emotional energy as well as His physical energy.

This is what we can see in Luke 5.

The example of Jesus teaches us these three lessons concerning our emotional energy management.

I. We must be aware of where we are emotionally (vv. 12-15).

Verse 12 says this.

While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

As the news of Jesus spread, many people, including many sick people, came to Jesus.

In this particular instance, a man with a leprosy came to Jesus.

During this time leprosy was the most dreaded disease.

This man was in a desperate situation; therefore, he came to Jesus and asked Jesus to heal him.

What did Jesus do?

Verse 13 says this.

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

Jesus was so compassionate that He touched this man.

During this time, it was unlawful to touch a person with leprosy.

However, in order to love him and heal him, Jesus touched the man.

Perhaps it had been years since someone touched him.

Then Jesus pronounced words of healing, “I am willing. Be clean!”

The result was an immediate cure.

Verse 14 says this.

Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

Jesus commanded the leper to be silent about healing, but to go to the priest and offer sacrifices.

Why?

Jesus did not say the reason very clearly.

However, verse 15 gives us a hint.

Verse 15 says this.

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.

Jesus told the man to be silent about his healing, but it was not heeded.

And many more people came to Jesus to be healed of their sickness.