S.O.A.P. Devotion 2018-12-22
Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer
SCRIPTURE:
“And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.”
Matthew 8:28-34 ESV
OBSERVATION:
This scriptures tells us that not only does Jesus have authority over demons, but that the demons knew it and they knew who He was when He was here. Jesus did not say for them to go into the pigs. He told them to simply, “go.” They were cast out of the men and He did not keep them from going into the pigs. Jewish people were forbidden to eat pork, so the owners were in violation of Jewish law just having them. It seems a reasonable observation that the area preferred to live outside the law when the whole village came out to beg Jesus to leave.
APPLICATION:
For some the simple presence of our Lord or even Christians is uncomfortable. His ability to change lives is something they do not want to be around. They are comfortable with their lives the way it is now. While we do not hesitate to go to difficult places and make a difference anywhere we can, we also know that we cannot force others to change. It is their choice and we have to honor that choice.
PRAYER:
Father, be a life changing force in my life. Do not let me hesitate to go to difficult places and make a difference. But let me never forget that you allowed us all to have a choice. Just as I want others to honor the fact that I have chosen you, let me also honor other’s choices that may reject you.
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