“When Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. No one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him… [Jesus] was saying, ‘Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!… What is your name?’ He replied, ‘My name is Legion, for we are many…’ So… the unclean spirits came out…
“And people came to see what it was that had happened. And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid… As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, ‘Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.’ And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.” Mark 5:2-6,8-9,13a,14b-15,18-20
Ostracized, isolated, unclean and uncontrollably helpless, the demon- possessed man knew nothing but misery. The only people he encountered were antagonistic, and tried to chain him. Then he met Jesus. Jesus was not afraid of him, nor repelled by him. He had compassion on him and his wretched situation and immediately acted to help. With a word, this merciful God-man freed him from his torment, and gave him new life. Where he’d known only loss and cruelty and loneliness, now all was love. He wanted to stay with his Savior forever.
But Jesus said no. Linger not with Me but love on your neighbors and friends with the love I have poured out on you. You have been made whole to live robustly. You have new livelihood to enjoy and a story to tell. You have been given mercy to extend it, life to expend it, and joy to spread it. Sow the seeds of newfound beauty you have been given so My light blooms wide and far.
All the Lord does in our lives is for His purposes and praise. He saves us so we live for His kingdom and glory. He entrusts much to us so we will invest well for His sake in all our involvements. His love showered on us, poured into us, and shed abroad in our hearts has undeniable effects in the way we go about our hours. (Luke 12:48; Romans 5:5; Ephesians 2:10)
How has Christ’s love affected and inspired us? How are we expressing it in daily duties? How has His anointing of our personalities, desires, and talents enhanced and motivated the way we work, interact with others, and spend our resources? Love lived out for Him and others brings great blessing and joy.
Lord, help me live out with abandon all You have put into me, to Your praise.
As the rain and snow 