“And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.” Mark 5:18-20. This man’s life was changed in a moment. At the spoken, authoritative word of Jesus, every devil left this man’s body.…
“And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.” Mark 5:1-2. The story of a man on the coast of Decapolis is written in three Gospels; Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This would tell me that it was a very impactful event for the disciples who were with Jesus. We meet a man on the East side of Decapolis, a league of ten cities characterized by Greek culture. We know that there was a populous of gentiles because of the large herd of pigs, which is a central focus in this account. Jews did not raise pigs, as they were considered unclean and forbidden to eat. In many cities, some neighborhoods are known for being unsafe due to a high concentration of drugs, crime, and homelessness. It is this kind of neighborhood Jesus walks into when He knows there is a hungry soul. He is not worried about the prostitute, the drug dealer, or the murderer. If He knows there is a hungry soul, He is going to meet with them.…
“And when he (Jesus) was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit… But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him.” Mark 5:2, 6. The man introduced in Mark 5:1-20 is possessed by thousands of devils. Many people would probably think, oh no, that poor man, there is no hope for him. Many of us wouldn’t even try to converse with someone so bound by Satan. However, these scriptures tell us that the man didn’t wait for Jesus to come to him. As soon as he saw Jesus in a boat, drawing near the coastline, he broke free from the chains that bound him to the tombs and ran to meet Jesus as soon as he stepped off the boat. He ran. He was desperate. He was tired of being bound, depressed, and under Satan’s captivity. He knew Jesus was more powerful than the possession that took hold of his life. I don’t know how this man became so possessed by Satan. I don’t know the road he took, and the decisions he made to get to the place he did. As a little boy,…
“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22, ESV) As I look out my window today, I see gray skies and the promise of snow. The apple tree I enjoy watching coming to life each spring is still bare and lacks beauty. It seems this winter has been especially long and cold. While some of my friends love these cold, snowy days, I do not. I adapt to summer’s heat more easily than to winter’s cold. I’m always eager for winter to give way to spring. I…
“And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (I John 2:17, ESV) A man I knew often used the phrase “in the light of eternity.” He was a wise and godly man who chose to view the things of this present world as just temporary. He understood that the things many consider as success—social status, wealth, popularity, accomplishments—will not carry over beyond the grave. This life and its successes are fleeting. However, the things we do for God hold eternal value. Colossians 3:1-2 tells us, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (ESV). Some do not believe in eternal life. For them, only what is accomplished here on earth is of value. They have no hope beyond this life, and that is sad. The Word of God tells us differently. Things God’s Word Tells Us: This present life is fleeting, like a mist that will soon disappear. “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is…
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-3, NKJV) One of the greatest stories of faith in the Bible is found in Genesis 22. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son—his long-awaited son of promise—as a burnt offering. How could God ask such a painful and shocking thing of a man who had faithfully followed Him for years? How could He ask a loving father to kill his own son? the journey The Bible does not tell us about any hesitation on Abraham’s part. Nor does it tell us what was going on in his mind. Whatever his inner turmoil, Abraham gathered the wood, loaded a donkey, and set out on a three-day journey to the land of Moriah. His son, Isaac, and two servants traveled with him. During their journey, Abraham never shared the full story with Isaac. His son only knew that they were going to sacrifice and worship. Finally, as father and son left the servants behind and headed up the mountain, Isaac questioned, “Where is the lamb…