Devotional Reading: mark 5: 1-20. Morning Psalm-84; Evening Psalm-42

Text: And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed. (Mark 5: 42)

    The story of the Gerasene demoniac reminded me of George Mac Donald’s  poem, “What Christ Said”.

I said, “Let me walk in the fields.”

   He said, “No; walk in the town.

I said, “There are no flowers there.”

   He said, “No flowers, but a crown.”

I said, “But the skies are black,

   There is nothing but noise and din”;

And He wept as He sent me back;

   “There is more,” He said, “there is sin.”

I said, “But the air is thick,

   And fogs are veiling the sun.”

He answered, “Yet souls are sick,

   And souls in the dark undone.

I said, “I shall miss the light,

   And friends will miss me, they say.”

He answered, “Choose tonight

   If I am to miss you, or they.”

I pleaded for time to be given.

   He said, “Is it hard to decide?

It will not seem hard in Heaven

   To have followed the steps of your Guide.”

I cast one look at the fields,

   Then set my face to the town;

He said, “My child, do you yield?

   Will you leave the flowers for the crown?”

Then into His hand went mine;

   And into my heart came he;

And I walk in a light divine,

   The path I had feared to see. 

They demoniac who was restored to his right mind wanted to get into the boat with Jesus and the disciples. He wanted to leave his past and the people behind. But Jesus said to him,  “Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.”(vs. 41)  

I think that that is true for each one of us. We are to set aside our plans for Christ’s plans. I believe that Christ touches us so that we might bear witness to how much He did for us.

    Lord, bend our wills to Your will. Cast aside our plans and lead us into seeing your plans. In this season of Lent, let us tell others–in ways that are appropriate to the circumstances–how you came into our lives and changed us into a reflection of Your image. Amen.