Focus

Prepare yourself to discern what is and what is not of God today. Still yourself so you can hear how God is calling you.

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Read

Luke 8:26-39 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me”— for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.

Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.

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Reflect

What a powerful story of Jesus driving out the Legion of Demons from this man. Can you imagine living among tombs, naked and suddenly this man whom even the demons fear shows up! The townspeople had become accustomed to this man, they knew what to expect when they saw him. After he became healed, the townspeople feared the one who had made him clean. They asked Jesus to leave, after being witness to and understanding what miracle took place. It was outside of the expectations, this unknown scared them.

How many times do we see those that have been stuck in addiction for years, watching them make leaps and bounds towards recovery only to fall back into the grasp of the enemy? Or perhaps a loved one, who ran hard and fast from God going down the path of destruction and death. Then suddenly they meet the healer, are cleansed and made whole. Doing something that we don’t expect, cannot fathom. Do you push them away out of fear, or do you pull them close?

I love the response of the man who was cleansed, he begged Jesus to go with him. But Jesus tells him to go home, tell everyone what God has done for you. Brothers and Sisters, yell it out loud, shout it from the mountain tops, all the great things God has done for you.
Blessings on your journey!

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Pray

Gracious God, let us be excited when we see those that you have miraculously cleansed and made whole. Let us rejoice with them. Shout from the mountain tops all the glorious works You have done. Help us help others who need You. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Go with God!