Post by Woody Williams on Feb 1, 2023 9:33:09 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Mark 5:1-13
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They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the
Gerasenes. And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man
out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. He lived among the
tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain; for
he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains
he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one
had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on
the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones.
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him;
and he shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me,
Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment
me." For he had said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean
spirit!" Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My
name is Legion; for we are many." He begged him earnestly not to send
them out of the country. Now there on the hillside a great herd of
swine was feeding; and the unclean spirits begged him, "Send us into
the swine; let us enter them." So he gave them permission. And the
unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd,
numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the
sea, and were drowned in the sea.
Devotional
----------
In this text Jesus again demonstrated his authority and power over
the power of evil. In this text there is certain rapport between
Jesus and the demons. Jesus responds to their request to be put
inside the pigs. He does not deal with them out of anger or hate.
They, too, are a part of God's creation, even though fallen and
separated. Even in this situation Jesus power and authority is
expressed through love. This text and others shows us that it is not
right to use evil as an excuse for treating people with hatred. Much
of our prejudice is based on the notion that if I can paint someone
as evil I am justified in treating with hatred and not love.
Prayer
--------
Lord, help me face my prejudices and clear my life of hatred
fashioned from fear. Amen
----------
They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the
Gerasenes. And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man
out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. He lived among the
tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain; for
he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains
he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one
had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on
the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones.
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him;
and he shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me,
Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment
me." For he had said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean
spirit!" Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My
name is Legion; for we are many." He begged him earnestly not to send
them out of the country. Now there on the hillside a great herd of
swine was feeding; and the unclean spirits begged him, "Send us into
the swine; let us enter them." So he gave them permission. And the
unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd,
numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the
sea, and were drowned in the sea.
Devotional
----------
In this text Jesus again demonstrated his authority and power over
the power of evil. In this text there is certain rapport between
Jesus and the demons. Jesus responds to their request to be put
inside the pigs. He does not deal with them out of anger or hate.
They, too, are a part of God's creation, even though fallen and
separated. Even in this situation Jesus power and authority is
expressed through love. This text and others shows us that it is not
right to use evil as an excuse for treating people with hatred. Much
of our prejudice is based on the notion that if I can paint someone
as evil I am justified in treating with hatred and not love.
Prayer
--------
Lord, help me face my prejudices and clear my life of hatred
fashioned from fear. Amen