Thursday, September 15, 2011

The Word of God-Proclaiming

"Let Your faithful love come to me, LORD, Your salvation, as You promised.  42  Then I can answer the one who taunts me, for I trust in Your word.  43  Never take the word of truth from my mouth, for I hope in Your judgments.  44  I will always obey Your instruction, forever and ever.  45  I will walk freely in an open place because I seek Your precepts.  46  I will speak of Your decrees before kings and not be ashamed.  47  I delight in Your commands, which I love.  48  I will lift up my hands to Your commands, which I love, and will meditate on Your statutes.” ~Psalms 119:41-48 HCSB  

I have heard through the years people tell me why they cannot witness to others about Christ. But the very same person would tell everyone about a doctor who saved her life.  Or the guys who is loud and knows everything becomes a mouse if Christ name is mentioned.  It’s understandable in many respects.  We fear others reactions, we fear what they might think of us if we talk about Jesus.  We don’t want to become ‘oh, one of those’ guys.  I think when we think along those lines our focus is off.  We are focused on ourselves and not our salvation.  We are not thinking about Christ and what he did for us.  

In Mark chapter 5, Jesus heals a demon possessed man.  The man was chained and lived in the tombs.  He had broken the chains that once held him and was running around crying out and cutting himself, this went on day and night.  Jesus saw the man and confronted him. He asked the demon what was his name and they answered back, “Legion, for we are many.”  Jesus sent the demons from the man into herd of pigs who quickly ran into a lake and drowned.  The town’s people came out to see what had happened and were astonished when they saw the man.  He was sitting there in his ‘right’ mind and the people were afraid and asked Jesus to leave!  Getting in the boat the man whom Jesus had saved wanted to go with him.  But He would not let him; instead, He told him, "Go back home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how He has had mercy on you." So he went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.” (Mark 5:19-20)

How many people do you think he went and told about Jesus?  He would have told everyone and all were amazed!  The man was saved from torment and utter ruin.  We too were on a path of destruction, living our lives apart from God.  We were heading towards judgment, drowning in guilt, lost in our sin.  Like a person stuck in a burning building without hope, Jesus recused us from the flame.  When we see our lives as being speared by an incredible act of grace we can give thanks to our Lord.  But most of all we will proclaim Him to the world without fear.  We will see others in need of the same recuse and beg God to spare their lives.  We will delight in the Lord of salvation and his love for us and His love for others. 

Lord help us to see our salvation.  Help us to see others around us who need to be recused from the flame.  Lord use us to share your salvation with others, give us boldness and strength to proclaim you to the world!! Amen    

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