Psalm of the Day: Psalm 105:31-45
Wisdom of the Day: Job 23:1-17
Scripture Reading: Luke 8:37-40
We see in this passage, two requests made to our Lord Jesus Christ. They were widely different one from the other, and were offered by people of widely different character. We see, moreover how these requests were received by our Lord Jesus Christ. In either case, the request received a most remarkable answer. The whole passage is singularly instructive.
Let us observe that the Gadarenes besought our Lord to depart from them, and their request was granted. We read these painfully solemn words, "Then all the people of the region of the Gadarenes begged Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left."
Why did these unhappy men want the Son of God to leave them? Why, after the amazing miracle of mercy which had just been wrought among them did they feel no wish to know more of Him who wrought it? Why did they become their own enemies, forsake their own mercies, and shut the door against the Gospel?
There is but one answer to these questions. The Gadarenes loved the world and were determined not to give it up! They felt convinced, in their own consciences, that they could not receive Christ among them and keep their sins, and they were resolved to keep their sins!
And why did our Lord Jesus Christ grant the request of the Gadarenes, and leave them? He did it to show how great is the wickedness of those who willfully reject the truth. It seems to be an eternal law of His government, that those who obstinately refuse to walk in the light shall have the light taken from them.
Great is Christ's patience and long-suffering! His mercy endures forever. But if men persist in refusing His counsel, He has nowhere promised to persist in forcing it upon them. Many churches and families are in the same state of the Gadarenes. They have the truth, but said to Christ, "Depart from us," and He has taken them at their word. They are joined to idols and are now "let alone" (Job 21:14; Hosea 4:17).
Let us take heed that we do not sin the sin of the Gadarenes. Let it rather be our daily prayer, that Christ may never leave us to ourselves. He will never forsake us, but at times he may give us what we want, which opposes the will of the Father. The Gadarene mind must not be surprised to see Christ leaving it and going away.
Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, please give me what you want and not my own selfish will.
Action Plan: What idol do I have or act that I do directly defies the will of God? How does this affect me spiritually or physically? What can I do to overcome these idols?
This devotional was taken from The Gospel of Luke by J.C. Ryle published in 1858
and adapted by Pastor Tim Lewis of New England Shores Baptist Church.
