So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes.[a] 2 When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from a cemetery to meet him. 3 This man lived among the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. Mark 5:1-3
I don't know what you consider fun, or entertaining, but I can honestly tell you that hanging out in cemeteries, "aint" my thing. Furthermore, the older I'm getting I'm becoming increasingly more aware of what is "GOOD" entertainment, and what is totally unhealthy as well as unwise. This man did just hang out in the cemetery/tombs, but this is where he lived. He was put there by the people of his town when they considered him a threat to society. Now I could easily go down a path of how we put people who have either made or been accused of punishable crime in places with those that are seriously sick, demented, or in this case spiritually dead (some may argue that they are mentally, emotionally dead as well)....but for the sake of this blog....I want to ask a question: WHERE DO YOU HANG OUT, or LIVE?
For a moment think about what it means to be put into a box, social, economic, racial, political and repeatedly being chained or limited to the confines of that box. If you are strong enough to break the chains, despite that.....people don't see you as free, nor do they really desire you to be free. Now if you can identify with feeling incarcerated in these terms.....do you desire to free? REALLY free....so much so that you will even run to CHRIST?
Now this man didn't elect to be there .....but was placed there, but what about you who choose to continue in the occult, an unhealthy indulgence in scary movies, your alcoholism, drug abuse (marijuana, prescription..and mild altering subject), pornography (trust me if you have been called an addict of sorts several times....it's probably true)....have you been hanging (choosing to) with the spiritually dead? Stop lying to yourself that it doesn't hurt anybody....it's hurting you, your family, your community, and ultimately your relationship with GOD. As a matter of fact it's become your GOD. You go to it for comfort & for affirmation, instead of to Him.
Now, no matter which you identify with the demon possessed man who was put away, or if you are the one that chooses to indulge in things of the dead......see the compassion of Christ. He could've chosen to go many directions after feeding the 5000. but He desired to go to A MAN (it wasn't a church, a community of.....) that was in need. He & His disciples sailed in fierce opposition for a single soul. How much more will He do for you? TODAY COULD BE THE BEGINNING OF THE END of a life that has been spent apart from Him. He'd move Heaven, Hell & Earth for you....if you'd just surrender.......
You may feel defeated where you currently are....but there is VICTORY in accepting His will for your life. You can be salt & light on the job. You can be redeemed. Hanging with the dead, you continue to die...but Christ offers life abundantly.....so you go from being spiritually dead, to ALIVE in Him. I pray you END ___________________ today so that you can receive what Christ offers. LGLP
No comments:
Post a Comment