“And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid” (KJV, Mark 5:14-15).
“And they that fed the swine fled”
Father, I thank You for the privilege of being able to speak with You. I realize that my sin is great, but You are greater. I had a debt I could not pay, and the chasm was wide that separated me from You.
However, the Captain of my Salvation has come and rescued me. Jesus has made atonement for my sin, and You have cast my sin into the sea of forgetfulness. I rejoice in the fact that Your mercies are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness, O God.
When those who cared for the livestock saw the work of Christ, they fled. Seeing Him cast the demons into the pigs would have been amazing. His power was on display, and the people must have feared being in the presence of Christ.
But they also must not have been aware of how approachable He was. Thank You for the humility and meekness of Jesus. He has told me that I can come to Him and find rest. He has promised that I can take His yoke upon me and learn from Him for He is gentle and lowly in heart.
Thank You for the compassion of Christ.
“and told it in the city”
When the people fled, they told about what they saw in their hometown. Father, I pray that You would equip me with Your Gospel. Help me to learn about how sin has affected You.
Teach me how sin has affected man as well. Finally, help me to understand the remedy for sins consequences being Jesus Christ as revealed in Your Gospel.
Your Word has made it clear that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Nevertheless, there is a significant problem in the world today. Jesus told His disciples that the harvest was great, but the laborers were few.
In other words, how will someone believe unless someone tells them, and how will someone tell them unless they are sent?
Teach me the implications of being reconciled to You. As I look in Romans 5, I am made aware that I am reconciled to You because I have first been justified through faith.
Thus, I am at peace with You because of the work of Christ. But when I read 2 Corinthians 5, I am informed that my reconciliation has brought about a newfound purpose. I am now an ambassador for You, and You have given me the ministry of reconciliation.
“and in the country”
Father, I am reminded of the words in the book of Acts. Your Word says, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
So not only must the Word advance where I am, but it must also go forth to the uttermost parts of the world.
When I look upon what took place with the keepers of the livestock, I see that they shared the word first in their city than in the neighboring region. Your Word is spreading, and the light of Your Gospel is shining. May Your Word go forth, and may Your kingdom increase.
“And they went out to see what it was that was done”
When the people heard the testimony of the keepers of the livestock, they went to see what was done. Father, You are at work in the world today. Help me to see Your work in my life.
Sometimes I can believe that You are uninvolved. Sometimes I forget that You are Sovereign and in control of everything.
Your Word tells me that You work all things for my good. Elsewhere, I am made aware that You work all things according to Your will. When Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, they meant evil against him.
However, Your Word tells me what they meant for evil; You meant for good. I am amazed at Your wisdom and ways.
“And they come to Jesus”
Father, please draw me to Jesus this day by the power of Your Spirit. I often get distracted and lose sight of my Savior. I need your help to stay close to Jesus each day. I know that Your Word is important, but I even get sidetracked by matters in Your Word that are not as important as knowing and loving Jesus.
He must be the overwhelming focus of my attention.
Sometimes my attempts to become holy can even distract me as I seek answers in Your Word and often try to grow in holiness in my own strength. But I am convinced that the primary way the Holy Spirit sanctifies me is not through working directly on my sin but by magnifying Christ and teaching me to love Him more.
The line is thin, but I pray that You will help me walk it. Help me to look to Jesus as the Author and Finisher of my faith and love Him more.
“and see him that was possessed with the devil”
Guard me against spiritual attack. Your Word makes it clear that the world has spiritual forces of evil today. My battle is not against flesh and blood but against Satan’s forces.
He has come to steal, kill, and destroy. However, Jesus has told me that He has come so that I would have life and have it abundantly. Teach me the path to the abundant life that is in Christ. Show me Your power as I look to You in faith.
Help me to use the resources that You have given me to fight the good fight of the faith.
I know that Satan is strong, but Your Word tells me that the stronger One has come to bind Satan. Thus, I must always remember that I have been crucified with Christ and that I no longer live, but Jesus lives in me. I now live by faith in Jesus, the One Who loves me and died for me.
“and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind”
Father, while there are many demonic forces in the world, I am reminded that Satan only took a third of the angels. As a result, Satan and his forces as still outnumbered, and I must never forget that Satan is not Your equal.
Instead, he is far from it. He was created as were the other fallen angels, and they are no match for You.
It is a blessing to be under the shadow of Your wings. You have protected me and guided me through rough terrain. You have walked with me through the fire so I would not get burned. You have told me that You will not leave or forsake me, and from Your promise, I gain courage.
Teach me to sit at the feet of Jesus. Sanctify my mind like You did the man with the legion. In the presence of Christ, I am made whole. Teach me to abide in His presence.
“and they were afraid”
When the people saw Christ and the transformation of the man with the legion, they were afraid. I am reminded of my need to fear You. However, I do not need to be scared of You.
Nevertheless, I am to revere You and be in awe of Who You are. You are the Creator of the world and Almighty God. The power You have is incomprehensible. You created the world with mere words.
You breathed into Adam’s nostrils and brought Him to life. You sent a great flood upon the earth when the sin of man was great. But You also sent Your Son when all had strayed like lost sheep so that they could be saved.
Thank You for sending Your Son. In Jesus’ name, Amen