Do you realize who you were? (Mark 5:1-20)

Unfortunately, I tend to forget how much power Jesus had while He was on this earth. You know, when I hear the stories of Him raising Lazarus from the dead, it doesn't give me the chills. (Sad, huh?) But when I lose that awe, God slams it in my face and says "Girl, you need to understand who I AM, I AM the one who brings the dead to life, I AM the one who creates the stars in the sky, I AM who I declare myself to be in my word! Why don't you get it?!" Those are my favorite moments, and I would like to share one with you. (:

[2] And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. [3] He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, [4] for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. [5] Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. [6] And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. [7] And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” [8] For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” [9] And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” [10] And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. [11] Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, [12] and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” [13] So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the pigs, and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned in the sea.

[14] The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. [15] 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. [16] And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. [17] And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. [18] As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. [19] 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.” [20] And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

(Mark 5:2-20 ESV)

Before Christ, I was the demon possessed guy. I had a Legion of demons inside of me. I lived in unclean conditions, I lived where dead things were placed. I was planning my own end, I was afflicting myself, because I didn't know anything else. (Verses 3-5).

Upon meeting Christ, I fell at His feet. His holiness was far greater than my sin. Seeing Him in His perfection was tormenting. (Verse 6).

I could not save myself, my Old Man was commanded to be sent away to no longer have control over me. (Verses 7- 13).

My life, made alive in Christ, was shocking to the World. Because of His Holiness, the world can't stand Jesus. (Verses 14-17).

I don't want to be doing anything or be anywhere that Jesus Christ is not. He is the only reason for my existence. When He says "Go" I'll go, when He says "Stay" I'll stay. (Verses 18-20).

The fact that God uses a Demon-possessed guy, and me is unthinkable. Who on earth would want to use someone so dirty, so unqualified, and so (you fill in the blank). Answer: God does. because through Him, and His power, comes His glory to be magnified.

Oy, I love this.

I pray you have a blessed week dear readers,

Bethany J