When Pigs Fly - Girlfriends in God - June 9, 2015

June 9, 2015
When Pigs Fly
Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth

“Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you” (Mark 5:19 NIV).

Friend to Friend

After Jesus had experienced a strenuous day of teaching, not to mention calming a squalling storm, He crossed the Sea of Galilee to enter the region of the Gerasenes. As soon as He stepped off the boat, a demon-possessed man who had been living in the tombs, ran up to meet Him. But this was no welcoming committee. The demons began shouting at the top of the man’s voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” (Mark 5:7).

“What is your name?” Jesus asked.

“Legion,” he replied, “because we are many.”

Jesus commanded the demons to come out of the man and He sent them into a nearby herd of swine. Then the entire herd of pigs, about 2,000, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

And what of the man? Before his encounter with Jesus, the tomb dweller cried out day and night, and cut himself with stones. He even broke the chains that others had used to try and restrain him. But after his encounter with Jesus, the people were amazed to see the previously demon-possessed man sitting fully clothed and in his right mind.

As Jesus was preparing to get in the boat and leave the village, the grateful man ran up to him pleading. “Please, oh please let me go with you,” he cried.

But Jesus didn’t allow it. “Go home to your family,” Jesus said, “and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you” (Mark 5:19 NIV).

Are we surprised? We shouldn’t be.

Jesus doesn’t comfort to make us comfortable. He comforts us to make us comfort-able. “Go back and tell,” He says. While we might want to spend our days in endless worship, He wants us to go out into the world and share what He has done…and sometimes that is to our very own families.

Is God prompting you to tell someone how He has worked in your life? Today, let’s ask God to show us just who that person may be.

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord, so many times I simply want to stay in my own little world and worship You. And yet, while You do long for me to worship, You also desire for me to “go and tell.” Give me the courage to tell about all that You have done in my life—to my family, to my neighbors, and to the world.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

What has Jesus done in your life?

How willing are you to tell others about what He has done?

Is there someone in particular that you feel God prompting you to witness to today?

I’d love for you to tell me! You can email me your story at Sharon@sharonjaynes.com and tell me one great thing God has done in your life in the past year. I can’t wait to hear about it!

More from the Girlfriends

The Bible says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story!” (Psalm 107:2 TNIV). Is God calling you to tell your story? If so, one way to get ready is by reading my book, Your Scars are Beautiful to God: Finding Peace and Purpose in the Hurts of Your Past. It also comes with a Bible study guide that is perfect for group or individual study.