No, Go and Tell

Have you ever wanted to just be with Jesus?

Have you ever wondered what Jesus wants you to do here on this earth?

I have.

This morning I was reading in Mark chapter 5. Jesus had just cast a legion of demons out of a man and sent those demons into a herd of pigs. The pigs had then committed suicide and the man was left perfectly sane. "And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone" (Mark 5:17 NLT).

How did Jesus respond?

He respected their wishes and got into the boat. While he was doing this, the healed man "begged to go with him" (Mark 5:18 NLT). Wouldn't you do the same? Here was a man who had saved your life and everyone else had just asked him to leave. Wouldn't you want to go with him? I would.

How did Jesus respond?

He said, "No..." Sometimes the answer to our prayers is "No".

He said, "No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been" (Mark 5:19 NLT).

How did the man respond?

"So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him" (Mark 5:20 NLT). He was willing. He went out and witnessed everywhere. He told everyone what Jesus had done for him.

"and everyone was amazed at what he told them" (Mark 5:20 NLT).

Today, I want to be with Jesus. Today, Jesus is telling me "No". Today, Jesus is telling me to go home to my family and tell them everything that He has done for me and how merciful he has been. I am starting off on this mission. How about you?

I will set you free from fear

As I sat down at my table to spend time with God this morning, this verse came to mind...

"If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples; you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32).

In wondering what He meant by the truth, I was then led to another verse...

"I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me" (John 14:6).

So I will know the truth, that is Jesus, and he will set me free. Ok, so how do I come to know Jesus? John 8:31-32 told me that I had to obey his teaching and be his disciple. What does Jesus want me to do?

My mind was led to the next chapter...

"My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you (John 15:12).

If I love others just like Jesus loves me, I am his disciple. I will know the truth, that is Jesus, and He will set me free.

What will he set me free from? Many things, I am sure, but my mind was led to a particular verse...

There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear. So then, love has not been made perfect in anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do with punishment (1 John 4:18).

If you love others, just like I love you, you are really my disciples; you will know me, and I will set you free from fear.

I was really blessed by my conversation with God this morning and I hope you are too! :)

Are you paying attention?

A few weeks ago I was having a shower when God spoke to me and told me that I would not die, but live and proclaim what the Lord had done (Psalm 118:17).

Woah!

Today, as I was going about my day God gave me this message:

God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things he has done (1 Peter 2:9).

Wow! Okay... so here I am!

Friends, I have passed through the valley of the shadow of death. I have doubted God, but even when I didn't sense it, God was loving me. He may not have been expressing his love in words, but he was in actions. He sent me people to love and protect and help me. Now the shadows have lifted and my faith has been restored. I am now going forth proclaiming what the Lord has done.

Friends, God never stops loving us. Sometimes we just aren't paying attention and are expecting him to show his love to us in our way.