InChristAlone
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Purposeful Love: Living For the Glory of God
Mark 5:17-20
"Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. 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." And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled."
The Lord has spoken to my heart through this passage today. I read it and reread it and could not believe how I had missed this before.
This is the story of Jesus casting out the unclean spirits from a man and commanding them to go into swine. I marvel at the reaction of the spirits to Jesus Christ. However, verses 17-20 are what really grabbed my attention.
1) Though Jesus had delivered this man from the power of Satan, the spectators desired that He leave their country. Why? Because they loved the world more than Jesus. They had suffered a severe loss. Their swine had been killed. Their profit from the herd of swine was more important to them than having Jesus with them, whose power had broken the hold of Satan in their country.
2) Jesus left their country. Their hearts were not receptive to Him. He left them to their own cares. What a sad picture of those who reject Christ!
3) The man who had been freed from the demons begged Jesus to permit him to go with Him. He desired to be with Him immediately. Maybe this man was scared, maybe this man could not see his purpose in staying behind, but it says he begged.
4) Notice Jesus' reaction. (this is where it really gets good:)
He did not permit the man to go with Him at that moment. Instead He tells him to go home and tell his family and friends what great things the Lord had done for him and how the Lord had shown compassion on him. Here was the purpose for which he had been created--to spread the glory of God by living for Christ!!! The Lord Jesus Christ is not unkind to save us and leave us on this earth. When we face the pressures of this world as He lives within us, we understand the depth of His love and mercy.
Matthew 26:42 [Jesus' prayer]
" He went away again the second time and prayed, saying, "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."
Oh, the agony seen in the Garden of Gethsemane and oh, the depth of the Father's love! Jesus drank of the bitter cup. His meat was to do the will of the Father. Our Abba Father gave His only Son for us. The Son now intercedes for us and (in a sense) gives us to the Father in order that the glory of God be spread throughout all nations!
I have found myself wondering at times why the moment after we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, that we do not go to be with Him. This passage reiterated that clear purpose. His glory is spread and the depth of His love and mercy is revealed as we live in this present world.
This is why we cannot be 'closed-off ' Christians. Yes, it is true, we are in the world and not of the world. But what is our purpose for being in the world? Is it not to spread the glory of God and to show others the great things the Lord has done for us, to show them the compassion that He has shown us? It is not to avoid contact with the outside world. It is not to shun unbelievers because of our supposed self-righteousness.
What a picture of true enduring love! We have been given the gift of His Spirit. He is alway within us and it is His power that sustains us and keeps us pressing on not for ourselves, but for Him. We do not serve a cruel God because we deal with the pressures of the world. We serve a powerful, loving, merciful, compassionate God whose great glory may be spread through the fine tuning of His instruments. We are His instruments. He is the One Who fine tunes us. The day-ins and day-outs of life are opportunities to prove our love for Him. Every morning that we wake up, we are shown the mercy of a sovereign God. His love has been shed abroad in our hearts. He holds us in His arms each day and we are under the shadow of His wings.
But why, why, why, am I going through this circumstance of life, someone might ask? Why would He allow His child to endure the cold dark world? The answer comes in the form of a question. Why did God the Father send His only Son to die on a cross for our sins? Because He is God and He was glorified through that sacrifice!!
I have often been skeptical of the "God is Love" message that fails to preach of the fear and wrath of God and condones wrongdoing. But there is a balance to be obtained because, in reality, God's love is at the heart of all doctrine. The love of God shed abroad in our hearts is for the glory of God!
The love of Jesus Christ is the most unfathomable love of all! I want my love for Him to be proved. I gladly serve Him in this world covered by His blood so that He, the Love of my life, is glorified above all!
Do I want to merely exist or do I want to live to spread the glory of God? Every day is an endless opportunity to live in His love!
"Father,
Make me an instrument of your love. Lord, work in me to replace selfishness with a hunger for You and a compassion for lost souls. Show me Your glory. Help me to live in such a way that Your glory is experienced and expressed. Thank You for the revelation to Your child. Your love has been so real to me today. Forgive me for complaining when I do not understand. You alone are my reason for living. I thank You. I praise You. I live for You alone.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen."
"Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. 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." And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled."
The Lord has spoken to my heart through this passage today. I read it and reread it and could not believe how I had missed this before.
This is the story of Jesus casting out the unclean spirits from a man and commanding them to go into swine. I marvel at the reaction of the spirits to Jesus Christ. However, verses 17-20 are what really grabbed my attention.
1) Though Jesus had delivered this man from the power of Satan, the spectators desired that He leave their country. Why? Because they loved the world more than Jesus. They had suffered a severe loss. Their swine had been killed. Their profit from the herd of swine was more important to them than having Jesus with them, whose power had broken the hold of Satan in their country.
2) Jesus left their country. Their hearts were not receptive to Him. He left them to their own cares. What a sad picture of those who reject Christ!
3) The man who had been freed from the demons begged Jesus to permit him to go with Him. He desired to be with Him immediately. Maybe this man was scared, maybe this man could not see his purpose in staying behind, but it says he begged.
4) Notice Jesus' reaction. (this is where it really gets good:)
He did not permit the man to go with Him at that moment. Instead He tells him to go home and tell his family and friends what great things the Lord had done for him and how the Lord had shown compassion on him. Here was the purpose for which he had been created--to spread the glory of God by living for Christ!!! The Lord Jesus Christ is not unkind to save us and leave us on this earth. When we face the pressures of this world as He lives within us, we understand the depth of His love and mercy.
Matthew 26:42 [Jesus' prayer]
" He went away again the second time and prayed, saying, "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."
Oh, the agony seen in the Garden of Gethsemane and oh, the depth of the Father's love! Jesus drank of the bitter cup. His meat was to do the will of the Father. Our Abba Father gave His only Son for us. The Son now intercedes for us and (in a sense) gives us to the Father in order that the glory of God be spread throughout all nations!
I have found myself wondering at times why the moment after we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, that we do not go to be with Him. This passage reiterated that clear purpose. His glory is spread and the depth of His love and mercy is revealed as we live in this present world.
This is why we cannot be 'closed-off ' Christians. Yes, it is true, we are in the world and not of the world. But what is our purpose for being in the world? Is it not to spread the glory of God and to show others the great things the Lord has done for us, to show them the compassion that He has shown us? It is not to avoid contact with the outside world. It is not to shun unbelievers because of our supposed self-righteousness.
What a picture of true enduring love! We have been given the gift of His Spirit. He is alway within us and it is His power that sustains us and keeps us pressing on not for ourselves, but for Him. We do not serve a cruel God because we deal with the pressures of the world. We serve a powerful, loving, merciful, compassionate God whose great glory may be spread through the fine tuning of His instruments. We are His instruments. He is the One Who fine tunes us. The day-ins and day-outs of life are opportunities to prove our love for Him. Every morning that we wake up, we are shown the mercy of a sovereign God. His love has been shed abroad in our hearts. He holds us in His arms each day and we are under the shadow of His wings.
But why, why, why, am I going through this circumstance of life, someone might ask? Why would He allow His child to endure the cold dark world? The answer comes in the form of a question. Why did God the Father send His only Son to die on a cross for our sins? Because He is God and He was glorified through that sacrifice!!
I have often been skeptical of the "God is Love" message that fails to preach of the fear and wrath of God and condones wrongdoing. But there is a balance to be obtained because, in reality, God's love is at the heart of all doctrine. The love of God shed abroad in our hearts is for the glory of God!
The love of Jesus Christ is the most unfathomable love of all! I want my love for Him to be proved. I gladly serve Him in this world covered by His blood so that He, the Love of my life, is glorified above all!
Do I want to merely exist or do I want to live to spread the glory of God? Every day is an endless opportunity to live in His love!
"Father,
Make me an instrument of your love. Lord, work in me to replace selfishness with a hunger for You and a compassion for lost souls. Show me Your glory. Help me to live in such a way that Your glory is experienced and expressed. Thank You for the revelation to Your child. Your love has been so real to me today. Forgive me for complaining when I do not understand. You alone are my reason for living. I thank You. I praise You. I live for You alone.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen."
posted by Heather Livingston at 2:44 PM
2 Comments:
In the big scheme, American living is top notch. When life is up, small trials look big. For instance, in American living, someone might bounce a check and feel as if their life is over. Paul said he learned how to live in blessing. I think we as American Christians need to learn how to live in blessing, and judge trials by what they are, not how they make us feel. What bigger trial could someone face than death? Yet, Peter requested a more horrific death, thus willingly making his trial even bigger. He remembered how Christ died and considered Himself unworthy to take the same death. It is so wicked to think ourselves above having suffering, especially when it pales in comparison to the suffering Jesus went through. Do we deserve a lighter, more carefree life? Our world might be cold, but may we remember that Christ's world was freezing, and then remember that we deserve hell! We were left in the world to forsake our desire for comfort and ease for the purpose. May we look at our suffering and be willing to take on even more, not being worthy of such small trials. With this attitude we are sure not to be distracted from God's will when we face a bump in the road. Thank you for your Journal, May we learn how to live.
Wow, this was an awesome entry. Thank you for sharing! I have been going through a rough spot here lately and I am trying to get back into my devotions and stuff and this entry really blessed me. Thanks again!
Bethany
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