It's not so much about where you can go, but what you can do where you are. For some reason, many people equate serving the Lord with serving Him somewhere else. Granted, some are called to serve as missionaries in foreign lands but, more often than not, the call to serve is to serve right where you are.
The story of a demon-possessed man in recorded in Mark 5. It's a bizarre story: a man with a "legion" of demons is exorcised by Jesus; the demons inhabit a large herd of swine; the swine stampede into the sea and are drowned. The man, "clothed and in his right mind" (Mark 5.15), is obviously extremely grateful to Jesus for this miraculous deliverance. He is ready to respond in gratitude.
"As He (Jesus) was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. And He did not let him, but He said to him, 'Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.' And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed." (Mark 5.18-20)
It's commendable that the man wanted to journey with Jesus, but his realm of effectiveness was in his hometown. The impact he could have was relatively simple: just tell them what Jesus had done in his life.
Few things are as powerful as personal testimony. There will always be those with a better mastery of Bible information, but the powerful combination of Bible truth and personal testimony is nearly irrefutable. A compelling testimony will evidence the reality of Jesus and the kingdom of God in ways that Bible information alone cannot. Others will see Jesus and the kingdom in us before they will hear it from us.
Our call and commission is the same as that of the former demon-possessed man: "Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you." Begin where you are, with whom you are with, and share what the Lord has done for and in you. Couple your story with Bible truth, and your life will shine as living truth in a dark and desperate world.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2013
The story of a demon-possessed man in recorded in Mark 5. It's a bizarre story: a man with a "legion" of demons is exorcised by Jesus; the demons inhabit a large herd of swine; the swine stampede into the sea and are drowned. The man, "clothed and in his right mind" (Mark 5.15), is obviously extremely grateful to Jesus for this miraculous deliverance. He is ready to respond in gratitude.
"As He (Jesus) was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. And He did not let him, but He said to him, 'Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.' And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed." (Mark 5.18-20)
It's commendable that the man wanted to journey with Jesus, but his realm of effectiveness was in his hometown. The impact he could have was relatively simple: just tell them what Jesus had done in his life.
Few things are as powerful as personal testimony. There will always be those with a better mastery of Bible information, but the powerful combination of Bible truth and personal testimony is nearly irrefutable. A compelling testimony will evidence the reality of Jesus and the kingdom of God in ways that Bible information alone cannot. Others will see Jesus and the kingdom in us before they will hear it from us.
Our call and commission is the same as that of the former demon-possessed man: "Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you." Begin where you are, with whom you are with, and share what the Lord has done for and in you. Couple your story with Bible truth, and your life will shine as living truth in a dark and desperate world.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2013
posted by steve @ 7:12 AM
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