Perhaps you have heard the saying, ‘the only Jesus some people will see is the one they see in you.’ It is very true. Those who are lost in need of salvation may have heard of Jesus, even gone to church on occasion, but don’t know Him as their savior. They never had that personal experience that is necessary to knowing Jesus; to know they are lost, a sinner in need of forgiveness, and assurance of eternal life.
Will they be drawn to you when the Holy Spirit begins to convict their heart? Will they see a true Christ follower? Will the name of Jesus you proclaim be evident to the wandering seeking soul by your speech and conduct. Who will they see? Will they see the savior of your soul, the one who changed your life and gave it meaning, or will your demeanor show a passive Jesus, one who is inactive and lifeless? Be careful not represent Jesus in name only, and not His Great name! If Jesus is alive in you, He cannot remain hidden, or your flesh will take over shading His light from being seen to the world.
The sound of Jesus’ great name is backed up by the evident change in those who have come to know Him. They know not only His great name, but Jesus Himself, who died for them and is their healer, redeemer, Lord, and King. When others see this change in our lives, and it is consistent, never wavering no matter what our circumstances, they will be able to see what a great name is the name of Jesus. Jesus’ name is great, because He is great, may people see His great name in us.
‘There’s no place like home’ repeated Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. What began as an enchanting adventure to find her way home turned into an experience she would not soon forget. We all desire the comforts of home. Familiar surroundings, friendly faces, and a sense of security all contribute to feeling safe at home.
Unfortunately, there are many in today’s world who do not have a sense of security in their home. It is not a safe haven for them. They are not yearning to go home by repeating ‘there’s no place like home.’ Struggles in the family due to divorce, sickness, addictions, finances, outside interference, and social issues have led to insecure family settings. Some would rather leave the home, and some have, than continue in their current state.
For the Christian, we not only have an earthly home, but also a heavenly one. We may be dwelling in our family home on earth today, but our heavenly home is as much a reality. It is guaranteed and secured by Jesus’ sacrifice for us on Calvary’s cross, and God’s promise to save all who accept Christ as their savior. God is as much our Father here on earth as He will be in heaven. In fact, Deuteronomy 33:27 says, “The eternal God is a dwelling place, And underneath are the everlasting arms.” (nasb) In a sense, we are dwelling in the eternal God who is upholding us in His arms. Now, how safe is that?
Your earthly home conditions may not be safe, and there are agencies who provide services to help you. Let me encourage you to take advantage of them. Also know for sure, if you’re a child of God, you have a heavenly Father who guards His children in His heavenly home, where is one can say, ‘there’s no place like home.’
“A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid.” Mark 5:15 NLT
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Jesus and His disciples finally reached the other side of the Sea of Galilee after a stormy night. They arrived in the region of the Gerasenes. This area just east of the Sea of Galilee was predominately a Gentile area. We learned last week of Jesus’ desire for rest. This region, which was not very populated and mainly a Gentile region, would be a welcome break from the large crowds that followed Him. But no sooner was Jesus out of the boat and on to the shore a demon-possessed man recognized Him. It was the demons who possessed him that recognized Jesus, for they knew who He was, the Son of God.
This man had been exiled from the villagers and was living among the tombs, a burial place inside the caves. These burial caves provided shelter to the poor and were frequently used. His demonic condition forced him away from society. He was bound by the people around him for their safety, but it was becoming impossible to restrain him even with shackles and chains. “Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him.” (Mk.5:4 nlt) The man would howl unearthly screams while cutting himself to pieces using flint with sharp jagged edges.
The man came up to Jesus and bowed before Him saying, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!” (Mk.5:7 nlt) Again, it is the demons, or the chief spokesman representing them begging Jesus not to torment them. Jesus demanded what is your name, the demons replied ‘legion’. Jesus wanted to draw attention to the condition of the man and the evil he was going to be relieved from. There were many demons inside the man. A Roman legion was 6,000 men. This brings understanding to the strength the man had in breaking the chains from his hands and crushing the shackles on his feet. The horrifying screams from the tombs of 6,000 demons inside the man would, as one commentor put it, ‘destroyed the divine likeness with which man was created. “
The demons knew they were about to be punished. They were standing before Jesus, God the Son, who had the power to destroy them by sending them to their eternal punishment into the abyss. “There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby.” (Mk.5:11 nlt) They requested that Jesus permit them to enter the herd of 2,000 pigs. “So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of about 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.” (Mk.5:13 nlt) The amazement just witnessed by the herdsmen caused them to quickly flee and tell what they had seen. People were soon coming from all directions the herdsmen had traveled with the news. Jesus’ peaceful rest was put on hold again.
There may be times when we are looking for that special quiet time only for it to be interrupted. It happens to all of us. It happened to Jesus. When these times occur, we need to consider them as divine appointments, for that is what they are. The Lord knows we need rest, but He also has more important things in mind that He wants us to take care of first. Jesus had a divine appointment to help a man with a legion of demons tormenting him. We may not be helping a demon-possessed person, but to them it may feel that way. So, put your rest on hold and do what is necessary at the moment.
“A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.” (Mk.5:15, 17 nlt) There were several reasons for the people being afraid and asking Jesus to leave their region. The vast number of demons that entered the pigs showed the immensity of what evil was inside the demon-possessed man. They were possibly aware of their own ungodly lifestyle, and were afraid of Jesus’ power, and then there was the financial aspect. 2,000 pigs that were lost equals loss revenue. A side note here; noticed Jesus did not command the demons to enter the pigs, He permitted them. Satan brought about the destruction of the pigs as he continues to work havoc to this day as the Lord permits.
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The man now freed from the demons asked Jesus if he can go with Him, begging Him. Jesus told him no, but to go to his family and tell them what the Lord had done for him. In telling the man this, Jesus is again claiming His deity as God. The man went on throughout the region becoming the first evangelist to the Gentiles. Another side note as we close: Jesus doesn’t rescue us and deliver us from sin to keep it to ourselves, but to go out telling others the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Advocating for something before speaking against is known in the political realm as being for something before being against it. The catch phrase dates to a presidential candidate in the 2004 presidential election who made the statement, ‘I voted for it before I voted against it’ in reference to a Senate bill. Ever since, the phrase has been used to display the on-going hypocrisy in politics. A prime example are the recent attacks on Tesla dealerships in the United States and now spreading to other countries. CBS News reports, “Graffiti on a Tesla dealership sign. Molotov cocktails thrown in another dealership’s lot. Tesla charging stations set on fire. Across the country, the electric vehicle company’s facilities and vehicles are being hit with protests and violence over Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration.” (1) From the Associated Press, “Cybertrucks set ablaze. Bullets and Molotov cocktails aimed at Tesla showrooms. Attacks on property carrying the logo of Elon Musk’s electric-car company are cropping up across the U.S. and overseas.” (2)
What was once hailed as a great achievement and supported very passionately for the protection of the environment, is now being destroyed by the same people due to politics. On the other hand, those who adamantly oppose electric cars are now finding a change of heart due to their politics. Hypocrisy knows no boundaries. They were for it before they were against it and vice versa.
Some Christians today have the same mindset. Due to pressure from the culture, what they were once for based on a Biblical conviction and worldview they are now against. Finding it easier to go along with the crowd they are persuaded their beliefs do not reflect the norms of society, are outdated, not respectful of our time, and should be abandoned. A word of caution in support of that kind of thinking; society may have changed, but God never changes. His Word stands alone.
Jesus said, “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” (Lk.11:23 nlt) When we start to move away from Scripture and Jesus’ words to adapt to the world we are working against Him. “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” (2Tim.3:16 nlt) Jesus, God the Son, used Scripture throughout His ministry on earth to teach us right from wrong. Scripture has not changed, and just because Jesus while on earth did not address certain issues does not mean they are no longer relevant or weren’t relevant in Jesus’ day.
Opposing certain passages of Scripture due to our politics or changing culture is opposing Jesus. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Heb.13:8 nlt) May Jesus’ followers never be heard to say, ‘we were for it, before we were against it.’
“While they drank from them they praised their idols made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.” Daniel 5:4 NLT
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I don’t believe there is any of us who has not done anything that was dumb. After you have done it, you say to yourself, ‘that was stupid’. I have had many of those encounters and still do. They are not fun and are embarrassing if seen by someone else. At least you don’t need to say, ‘that was stupid’, they’ll say it for you. Common mishaps happen to us all, some more than others, but that’s part of life. What is tragic is when a life of sin causes you to do dumb things. Desires to participate in ungodly acts will cause you to do things you have never thought possible. Sin makes you stupid!
In the book of Daniel, King Belshazzar displays the art of stupidity in drinking from the gold and silver cups taken from the Temple in Jerusalem during Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of the city years earlier. The Babylonian empire, now under the reign of Belshazzar, was about to fall into the hands of Medo-Persia. The Persian army was just outside their walls within the city limits waiting for the right time to attack. Belshazzar thought of lifting the mood of the people by throwing a party. Not exactly a smart idea.
The king gives orders to bring out the articles from the Jewish Temple for all the attendees to drink from. Perhaps reminiscing about the great victory of the past. He used the cups from God’s holy temple to drink wine from praising the Babylonian gods in the process, calling on them for deliverance from their enemy. Belshazzar’s behavior was unrestrained and sacrilegious Again, not very smart.
When one’s mindset is not focused on the one true God, and we attempt to handle things on our own, or we seek pleasure outside of God’s parameters we fall into sin. Once we are there, we do dumb things. Don’t allow sin to make you stupid!
“The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT
Today is the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. It may not feel like spring in some areas, but it is spring just the same. We can count on the fact that throughout all history, the changing of seasons arrive right on time according to schedule. God’s schedule. He has been faithful in the change of the seasons never being early or late, but right on schedule. It’s a sure thing. God is faithful.
It’s nice to have things we can count on. Better yet, a person we can count on to always be there when we need them, one who is truly faithful in all things. Our closest friends, family members, even our spouses, as much as they have good intentions to be there fall short of our expectations. Perhaps there are times we expect too much, but even so, none of us can achieve a 100% record of being faithful even to ones we love. We don’t like to be disappointed or be a disappointment to others. We count on each other to be there for us. But we’re looking for a sure thing. God is the person we should be looking for in our lives. He will always be there, and He is always faithful. We can count on Him when others, including ourselves, fail to be as faithful as we should be.
The prophet Jeremiah writes in Lamentations that God’s love is faithful meaning that it never ends. He is faithful in His mercy displayed on us, and He is faithful to give us fresh new mercies as each day dawns. Today is the beginning of many blessings and mercies the Lord will grant to us during this spring season. May we praise Him for His faithfulness in the change of the seasons and His faithfulness towards us. It’s a sure thing.
World Vision reports that according to the World Bank, 712 million people live in poverty across the globe. As of 2022, 38 million people in the United States live below the poverty line, and nearly 90% of children living in either sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia live in poverty. (1) There is much work to do in helping the poor. Yes, the Lord’s work is on-going, it never ends.
Jesus Himself said, “You will always have the poor among you.” (Jn.12:8 nlt) He said that 2,000 years ago, and we can see the truthfulness of His words. Jesus spoke those words in defense of Mary who was chastised for anointing Him with expensive perfume. Jesus’ point was, He would not always be with them, but the poor will always be present. There will be plenty of time and opportunities to help the poor, which is also His desire.
We have several examples in Scripture of doing the Lord’s work concerning the poor. Paul was carrying a gift to the poor in Jerusalem collected by fellow believers, he said “I must go to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers there. For you see, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem.” (Ro.15:26 nlt) James, Peter, and John when endorsing Paul’s ministry said, “Their only suggestion was that (they) keep on helping the poor, which (Paul) has always been eager to do.” (Gal.2:10 nlt) And the Lord God said through Moses to the children of Israel, “There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need.” (Dt.15:11 nlt)
Our generation has not missed out on helping the poor, nor has any previous generation. We are all required to be the hands and feet of Jesus and do His work. Caring for the poor and less fortunate in our society is caring for Jesus, for He said, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” (Mt.25:40 nlt) Let’s keep the work going!
Being joyful is a feeling that is expressed through gladness. It is deeper than being happy, which is momentary, and a little shallow compared to being joyful. Real joy penetrates our inner being placed there by something that stirs our hearts and doesn’t fade over time as quickly as a happy occasion. Most of us experiencing joy can testify that it does seem to slip away on occasion. We may or may not know why, but it is evident that something happens to remove the joy we had. Are there steps we can take to prevent losing our joy? Is God concerned when our joy is slowing fading like the evening sun? Yes, there are steps we can take, and God cares enough that He gave us instructions in His Word how to restore our joy.
The psalmist writes, “How joyful are those who fear the LORD and delight in obeying his commands.” (Ps.112:1 nlt) Here are two steps to consider if we are not putting them into practice. Do we have the reverence for God we should have? The creator of all things of which there would not be anything if He didn’t create, gave us life and He is worthy of our praise and reverence. We would not be here without Him. The second step we can take to not lose our joy is to obey God’s commands recorded in the Bible. And that is easier said than done.
Rest assured God knows our make-up. He knows we are dust; He created us. We are fallen creatures in Adam’s sin incapable of doing good without His help. If you have lost your joy, ask yourself, how would you answer the previous questions. You may just find the reason why. The Lord wants to restore our joy that has been slipping away due to sin in our lives and by not showing Him reverence. Let us pray along with King David when he said, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.” (Ps.51:12 nlt)
“When the LORD your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess it……… seven nations greater and stronger than you.” Deuteronomy 7:1 NASB.
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Have you ever had the opportunity to do something great? You have been promoted in your job due to your skill set and work ethic, but your new job description is way over your head. You feel intimidated as you examine the scope of your new assignment, but those who put you in there have the confidence you will succeed and have paved the wave for an easy transition. You proceed with hesitation going where you may not want to go.
The nation Israel was about to enter the Promised Land where seven nations that were much stronger than they were resided. The Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, each one greater than Israel, knew the land well due to their long history of living in the land. Israel was promoted to go into the land with detail job descriptions of their assignments. The first and most important one was to trust in God who had been leading them for forty years. The Lord promised that they would be successful in their new position, “When the LORD your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess and clears away many nations before you.” (Dt.7:1 nasb) The Lord is going to clear away the obstacles in their first assignment through their trust in Him. Israel will still do the work, but it will be the Lord working through them.
You are no different than the nation Israel when God gives you an opportunity for advancement and to glorify His name. You may be overwhelmed by work and the accountability involved, but the Lord will clear away and help you deal with anything over your head. He will give you comfortability and assurance that you can handle the job He assigned you to. Just trust God! You may not have wanted to go, but once you’re there you’ll be glad you did.
“Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, ‘Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?’” Mark 4:38 NLT
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Our study this week in the book of Mark reveals an undeniable truth. Jesus is both a man and God the Son. Believers, unbelievers, and theologians have debated for centuries including our current day the deity of Jesus. There are many people of faith who insist Jesus was a good man, a prophet, a teacher, a miracle worker, healer, and a man of love, but He was not God. Perhaps, you may be one with such beliefs. Hopefully, this short passage of scripture will change your mind, or get you thinking through it with the Holy Spirit’s guidance. We will see Scripture presenting the truth of who Jesus really is. It’s undeniable!
After a full day of teaching with His disciples by His side, Jesus suggests they go across the lake to the other side. The eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee was the area of the Gerasenes. There were no large cities in that region which meant fewer people. No doubt, Jesus was looking for some much-needed rest. I’m sure the disciples were mentally exhausted from all of Jesus’ teaching as one listening to a college professor’s lectures for hours. The disciples took Jesus’ advice and headed for the boat but take note some people followed them. “So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).” (Mk.4:36 nlt)
Scripture says a fierce storm came up shortly after their departure. Violent storms were not uncommon on the Sea of Galilee. The lake was 690 ft below sea level surrounded by mountains. Warm humid air rising from the lake collided with the cool Mediterranean air making its way through the narrow mountain passages causing a whirlwind effect much like a hurricane. Mark is very descriptive as he captures the effect of the hurricane like winds, “High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.” (Mk.4:37 nlt) Even for experienced fishermen, which some of the disciples were, this was a storm that would sink their boat.
We all go through storms in life, some of them with the potential to sink us. Storms occur even when we are following the Lord’s leading. It seems unlikely, at least in our minds, that God would lead us into a storm, but He did just that leading His disciples into a storm as they left for a mini vacation across the lake. Storms are a part of life in a fallen world, but take heart, Jesus has overcome the world. (Jn.16:33)
Imagine trying to sleep during a violent storm in the middle of a lake. There is loud thunder and streaks of lightning, and the boat is rocking from side to side with water splashing over filling the boat with water. The Bible says Jesus was asleep. Mark notes our Lord’s humanity. “Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion.” (Mk.4:38 nlt) Jesus was so tired and exhausted that even a violent storm couldn’t wake Him. But frantic disciples fearful for their lives were able to wake Him. Jesus heard the cries those who needed Him, His disciples, His followers. We too can be comforted knowing that Jesus hears our cries when we call out to Him.
When awaken, Jesus immediately rebukes the storm and says to the waves to be still. ‘Silence, Be still!’ He silences the storm, and the waves dissipate at once. There was no gradual clearing of the skies as the cold front moved through. No, it was immediate. So miraculous and terrifying was this event the disciples were more afraid now than during the storm, saying to each other, “Who is this man? Even the wind and waves obey him!” (Mk.4:41 ntl) The Ryrie Study Bible notes, “Though not comprehending fully who Jesus was, they knew He was greater than they thought.”
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Jesus did rebuke the disciples for not having faith. Though Jesus was sleeping, if the disciples had faith in God, they had no reason to fear. God the Father was aware of their troubles and God the Son was with them in the boat. Jesus proved His power over nature by calming the storm to nothing. He is Lord over all creation. The apostle Paul writes, “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation.” (Col.1:15 nlt) Jesus did indeed proved His deity by showing He is Lord over all creation. He proved His humanity by His need for rest when wearied from exhaustion while on this earth, giving us encouragement that He not only understands our needs but is able to care for them because He is God.
Word for the Soul 