"And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, 'Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you."
(Mark 5:18-19)
If we as followers of Jesus Christ could grasp just who we are in Him, then we would never question our worth or identity. In our moments of doubt and weakness, we often develop what I call "spiritual amnesia". We simply forget who we are and whose we are.
In our Scripture for today, Jesus has just healed a man who was demon possessed. This man lived in isolation and in constant torment from the legion of demons filling his soul. But with just a word, Jesus delivered this man and sent the demons out of the man and into a herd of pigs. The man was overjoyed with his new life and expressed to Jesus how he wanted to go with Him. But Jesus told the man,
"Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you."
Focus on the words "great things" and "compassion". If you have given your life to Christ, then the same things can be said of you. You may not have as dramatic a testimony as the man from Gadarene in
Mark 5, but listen to me closely: your story is just as miraculous and impacting. Jesus has set you free, and when Jesus sets someone free, they are free indeed! You are a new man or new woman in Christ. As the hymn puts it, "Great things He has taught us great things He has done, and great our rejoicing in Jesus the Son." Not small things has He done, but great things! Remember that, child of God, the next time you are tempted to doubt God's love and thoughts toward you. He has had compassion on you as well, and He continues to have compassion on you because you are the apple of His eye and His delight.
Zephaniah 3:17 teaches us that God literally rejoices over us with singing. What an amazing thought and truth contained in this verse of Scripture:
"The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing."
Take a few minutes and listen to this song, "Who You Say I Am", by Hillsong United. This has been viewed over 132 million times on YouTube. Enjoy!
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