This Day in History: 0000-07-01

July 1 – Mark 5:18-20 

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been.” 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; and everyone was amazed at what he told them. 

Do you ever wish you could just “get into the boat with Jesus” and go with Him to where He is right now? Most days it sounds so much more desirable than staying here in our messes and proclaiming His healing work doesn’t it? Surely, we can relate to this man.  

Yet, to each of us still living God has answered us in the same way. It’s not yet time for us to go to Him. That day will come. In the meantime, we’ve been given a mission. “Go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been.” 

Oh friends, when we’ve been set free from the clutches of the enemy and been equipped to live in victory over the very things the world has seen controlling us, we become ambassadors of the Gospel. Can you imagine the reaction when this man, known to have been possessed by a legion of demons, walked into town – clean, DRESSED, and in his right mind? Can you imagine the shock when he began sharing the story of how he had been set free? 

He probably could have chosen to shelter himself inside a home living in fear of once again being overcome by demonic influence. He could have chosen to turn his story into a charity case and convinced his countrymen to care for him the rest of his life, using his past trials as a crutch. But instead, he chose to live in the freedom he had been given. He chose to turn his story into a ministry – traveling to the area around him proclaiming “the great things Jesus had done for him.” And that testimony was powerful! It says everyone was amazed at what he told them.  

Are we any different? We have those same choices. Let’s not choose to remain victims. Let’s choose to live in freedom. Let’s stop begging Him to let us go with Him and instead go home to our families and tell them everything the Lord has done for us and how merciful He has been! Let’s proclaim His mighty healing. Let’s live for His glory.