Are You More Obedient Than The Evil One?
Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!” For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.
Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.
Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned. When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.
Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed. Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned.
Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him. (Luke 8:26-39)
The disciples had just passed through a terrible tempest, and the Lord showed them that they were safe and secure with Him. Now they were about to witness another encounter between Jesus and the devil!
The demon-possessed man came to meet Jesus. This was no ordinary man, because people of his town had tried to control him with chains and he had broken them every time. Without words, Jesus commanded the devil to come out of the man. Falling down before Jesus, the devil begged the Lord of Hosts to not torment him. When Jesus asked him his name, the devil answered, “our name is Legion”, which means that there were probably at least 3000 spirits living inside this man. No wonder nobody could control him! Nevertheless, all of them were at Jesus’ feet, pleading to not be sent to the abyss!
What a mighty Lord we have! Even though these were thousands of demons, they knew Jesus was Lord and obeyed Him. How much more we are to honor Christ with obedience, immediate obedience, every day of our lives. Demons won’t give more respect and obedience to Jesus than we, right?
Today’s practice
Once God’s will is clear to me in the Bible, I will give honor to Jesus obeying Him immediately. I will ask Him to forgive me for my disobedience in the past.
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.
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