[Day 164]
Matthew 8.32-34
So when they had come out, they entered the pigs. And suddenly the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the water. Then the men who tended them fled…At that, the whole town went out to meet Jesus. When they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their region
It’s easy to think that had we been alive in 1st century Palestine, we would have been Jesus’ followers. But as many as were for Him, there were plenty who were against Him. In this story, two demon possessed men prevent people from passing by them. They are demonically violent, and yet instantly they recognise Jesus as the Son of God.
Later, when the town hears about the herd of pigs rushing down the steep bank into the sea and the two demon possessed men sitting like normal people, they too go out to meet Jesus. And they too recognise that Jesus is the Son of God. But rather than humble their knees before Him in awe and reverence, they beg Him to leave their region. They had once been terrorised by two demon possessed men, but now that they have their freedom, they are desperate that the one who gave them that freedom leaves them.
We need to be careful for what we pray for. We might pray for freedom, for redemption, for those who have a hold over us to release us. But we must also be aware that God might answer our prayers and do so with an astounding and overwhelming show of His power.
We should know that however powerful the forces are that are against God, His power is always stronger and mightier and His is always the victory. As we recognise something of the reality of God, let us be aware that His power is something that can never be contained or boxed in. But even when we do see Him in power, we know that there will be plenty of sceptics and cynics who even if their eyes are opened, will beg Jesus – and His followers – to leave.
How would we have acted in 1st century Palestine? We may never know. But we can respond today in 21st century Britain. Are we willing to give up everything and follow Him, or would we rather things just stayed as they were?
What is God saying?
I believe that God is saying:
How is loving the Lord your God with all your heart going?
