Have you ever wanted to go somewhere exciting, but you had to stay where you were? Maybe you live in a town that you are ready to get out of. You try to leave, but God has plans for you right where you are. Chances are you did leave, but God brought you back to your small town. This is what happened to a man in Luke 8:38. For this man, it wasn’t necessarily a destination that was so exciting to him when he wanted to leave his town, but the “Whom with” that gave him the great desire to want to depart from where he was. Ahhh, maybe that part, the “whom”, spoke to some of you. Have you been there?
In this section of Luke is where we read about the demon possessed man that God healed in the town of Gerasa. I remember writing about this story back on February 27, 2013 (“Exorcism”) and January 12, 2013 (“Respected or Popular?”), but with a different insight.
The now demonless man begged Jesus to let him go with Him, “but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.” (Bubble Burst!) I like how The Message translation wrote what Jesus said. It reads, “Go home and tell everything God did in you.” Yes! That is how God changes us…from the “in”side out! Amen!
We are not told of the number of lives changed due to this man’s spreading the word. We are not told if he stayed in Gerasa for a while, and then left to go share his story in other places. What we are told is that this man obeyed God and stayed where he was. The latter part of verse 39 says, “So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.”
Do you have a story to tell others on God’s graciousness, forgiveness, mercy, love, etc.? I bet you do. Just like this demon-free man did, share your story with others….wherever you are.
Blessings to you.
April 9
