 |
| (emmanuelmti .com) |
Who hears your stories?
While reading the other day, this phrase caught my attention:
“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 had 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 KJV
Here, Jesus had just delivered a man from a legion of demons
that had tormented him for years; he’d been chained up outside his city repeatedly,
only to tear through the chains, terrorizing many. The townspeople were amazed
to see him sitting, clothed and in his right mind in front of Jesus, the man Who
had just set him free.
Just as there are things about this story that I don’t understand
completely, there were many things that confused the townspeople, but their
misunderstanding caused them great fear. They wanted Jesus to leave their
territory, where as I want only to grow closer to Him.
 |
| (pinterest) |
But back to this newly set free man, who’s name we don’t even
know – he’s forever been referred to as “the demoniac”, sits there in awe of
what Jesus has done for him, falling in love with Him.
When Jesus was begged to leave town, this newly freed man wanted
desperately to go with Him. God has so impacted MY life, that I always want to
be with Him.
But Jesus instructed this man to go home to his friends and
tell them how much God loves him and about the great things He has done for
him.
The man obeyed and went back to his friends and family a new
man. He told them about God’s great love and power toward him – to let them know
it was available to them, too. And they marveled. (Who all was in that crowd?)
This is all that Jesus requires of us, as well – that we go
to our friends and family and anyone who will listen and tell them about His
great love and compassion for us and about all the wonderful things He’s done
in our lives. Therein we will fulfill the great commission; we’ll be sharing
with them what God has given to us.
With some, we’ll get to share more. Others will merely hear
parts of our story.
God wants us to know His love, to share His love and to share
the reality that He will meet our needs, delivering us from the corruption of
this world and bringing us into His abundant life, here on earth and in the
next life.
How hard is it to share? Our parents have been trying to
teach us this concept since we were introduced to other children.
Share.
Share what God has freely given you. Teach what He has taught
you. Love like He has loved you.
You don’t even realize the impact you’ll have.
Who will hear your stories?
