Today’s Bible Reading:
Exodus 5; Luke 8; Job 22; 1 Corinthians 9: Proverbs 22
It is probably a familiar story to a lot of us-Luke 8:26-39. Jesus comes upon a man who was possessed by many demons. He has been living in the tombs, unclothed, bound in chains and shackles at times, and even under guard as he has escaped those chains at times and gone out into the countryside. This is the life of a man with no hope and a picture of our lives without Christ. We were dead in our sins, chained and shackled by the weight of them and kept forever from the presence of God. A life with no peace, a life without freedom. Then Jesus comes into the picture and everything changes. The chains are forever broken, we walk among the living instead of the dead. And we have peace with God and freedom in Christ. So what was this man’s response to being set free? He sat at the feet of Jesus. “The people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind.” -v.35
Should my response to Jesus be any different? Why is it so important for me to now sit at His feet and listen to His Word? My reading from Proverbs 22:17-19 answers that pretty well, “Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise (that would be God’s Word), and apply your mind to my knowledge; For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, that they may be ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the LORD, I have taught you today, even you.” When it came time for Jesus to go on from there, the formerly demon possessed man begged Jesus to take him with Him. I have always thought it rather sad that Jesus refused his request and instead tells him to go back home. To return home and tell those there what great things God has done for him. And we are told, “So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.” -v. 39b
That too is a picture of our lives here on earth while we wait for the Lord’s return. I am very grateful that Jesus does not leave us alone, but gave us the Spirit that dwells within each believer and has given us the Bible to help us grow in wisdom and understanding. So often, Jesus told the people he healed not to tell anyone-I am not at all sure why in this case the man was told to proclaim what had happened. But we do have the great commission to go into all the world proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. We have great things to share about what God has done for us. When I sit at His feet listening to His wise words and applying my mind to His knowledge I will have ready on my lips what someone needs to hear. I will be ready because I have trusted in the LORD and let Him teach me today-even me. (Back to the Proverbs I shared.)
Grace, peace, and mercy,
Debra
Exodus 5; Luke 8; Job 22; 1 Corinthians 9: Proverbs 22
It is probably a familiar story to a lot of us-Luke 8:26-39. Jesus comes upon a man who was possessed by many demons. He has been living in the tombs, unclothed, bound in chains and shackles at times, and even under guard as he has escaped those chains at times and gone out into the countryside. This is the life of a man with no hope and a picture of our lives without Christ. We were dead in our sins, chained and shackled by the weight of them and kept forever from the presence of God. A life with no peace, a life without freedom. Then Jesus comes into the picture and everything changes. The chains are forever broken, we walk among the living instead of the dead. And we have peace with God and freedom in Christ. So what was this man’s response to being set free? He sat at the feet of Jesus. “The people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind.” -v.35
Should my response to Jesus be any different? Why is it so important for me to now sit at His feet and listen to His Word? My reading from Proverbs 22:17-19 answers that pretty well, “Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise (that would be God’s Word), and apply your mind to my knowledge; For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, that they may be ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the LORD, I have taught you today, even you.” When it came time for Jesus to go on from there, the formerly demon possessed man begged Jesus to take him with Him. I have always thought it rather sad that Jesus refused his request and instead tells him to go back home. To return home and tell those there what great things God has done for him. And we are told, “So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.” -v. 39b
That too is a picture of our lives here on earth while we wait for the Lord’s return. I am very grateful that Jesus does not leave us alone, but gave us the Spirit that dwells within each believer and has given us the Bible to help us grow in wisdom and understanding. So often, Jesus told the people he healed not to tell anyone-I am not at all sure why in this case the man was told to proclaim what had happened. But we do have the great commission to go into all the world proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. We have great things to share about what God has done for us. When I sit at His feet listening to His wise words and applying my mind to His knowledge I will have ready on my lips what someone needs to hear. I will be ready because I have trusted in the LORD and let Him teach me today-even me. (Back to the Proverbs I shared.)
Grace, peace, and mercy,
Debra
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