Show & Tell
One of my favorite parts of grade school was when we had “show and tell”. My classmates and I would bring unique things from our home or life and show off the item and tell what it does and/or what it means to us. I enjoyed it because it was different and I was hearing from my friends about topics they loved. It was a good learning experience. I always enjoy hearing personal stories when I’m sitting under a teacher. I tend to lean in a bit more when the topic becomes personal.
Jesus had a wild confrontation with a man possessed of many evil spirits. Evidently the man was totally out of control and uncontrollable. When Jesus arrived on the scene, He immediately confronted the evil spirits. The evil spirits are weak in the Presence of the Lord. Jesus is about to call them out of this man and the demons asked to go into a heard of 2000 pigs. Jesus gives permission and the demons enter the pigs which immediately go crazy and run off a cliff into the water and drown. This whole scene freaks the people of the area out. Instead of getting to know this man Jesus – who has this sort of power; they ask Him to leave. Check this out…
18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. (Mark 5:18-20 NIV)Jesus’ instructions were very simple: “show & tell what the Lord has done for you”. (my translation) I’m not always able to give an explanation of what I know about the Lord, or what I believe – but I can tell you what He’s done for me and all that He’s doing in my life. I have lived through some dark and challenging times in my life and He’s been right there with me. His strength and His Presence has often sustained me when nothing or no one else could. I’ve seen with my own eyes and heard with my own ears some amazing faith stories and I believe that the Lord can do anything – be anywhere. I just know that He has changed my life many times. He’s been so patient with me as I stumble my way through big stuff. His grace is absolutely ridiculous! I want to live the rest of my life “showing and telling” what the Lord has done for me. I want others to know what a difference He has made in my life and can make in their life.
Pressing On! Dwayne