My apologies for being out of touch. I’ve had a head/chest cold and took some rest. Much improved now.
Our scripture today is Mark 5:19 (ESV).
And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”
There are some people Jesus heals that are called to follow Him (like blind Bartimaeus we will read about later in Mark 10:46-52). However, in today’s story Jesus heals a demon possessed man who asks to follow Him, but Jesus gives him other instructions. Jesus is sowing seeds in places that Paul and other missionaries will visit. It is the source of things like the account in Luke 9:49 of someone casting out demons in Jesus’ name who “does not follow with us”. The disciples didn’t see that they were not the only “Jesus community” in the world. These are the fruits of telling others how much the Lord has done for you.
Gracious God, You sent Your Son that we might be saved from our sin. Help us to share Your love with all our brothers and sisters, telling them of Christ’s saving power. Amen.
