BC / AC

Most people would say that God's commands are a set of rules we need to keep in mind as we go throughout our lives. They are a set of 'guidelines' we are to 'adhere to' the best we can in order to somehow 'make our way to God'. There is 'no making one's way to God' - he already made his way to us! We 'keep' the commands of God not because we 'have to', but because they are what actually gives us a new way of living.

I will never forget your commands, because through them you gave me new life. (Proverbs 119:93)

Let's look at it this way - BC (Before Christ) we likely 'colored outside the lines' a bit with our lives. Then AC (After Christ) was given control of our lives, we have likely observed some change in our priorities, actions, and even our attitude. Yes, his presence begins this work, but it is more than we just keep his commands. We actually delight in keeping them - we see them as a way of making better choices. We don't resist them any longer, trying to color outside the lines, but trust the 'lines' are there because they will shape us into loving and caring individuals.

The commands of God aren't burdensome to a believer because they are actually shaping our lives anew. We don't keep them because we have to, but because we delight in the 'freedom' of spirit, soul, and mind that comes when we do. Most outside of a relationship with Jesus would think that an odd statement to make because they cannot see any set of rules as giving us 'freedom'. Our freedom is 'bought' by keeping the commands of God, but reinforced when we move from just knowing the commands into the place of allowing them to affect the way we live.

Some might believe that this scripture implies the keeping of his commands as the way to new life, but this isn't what is meant when God tells us we are given new life through them. We are given new life when we take hold of Christ, allow him to be the central part of our lives, and then trust him to show us how his commands create a circle of protection over our lives. The more we ask God to show us his truths, coupled with the prayer to help us incorporate those truths into our daily actions, the more we will delight in those commands. Just sayin!

Go and Tell

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 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.” 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)

The one set free from a lifetime of torment and torture was not always so 'grateful' and 'trusting' toward Jesus. When Jesus first sees the man who was demon-possessed, he asked Jesus to leave him alone - to not change anything in his life. He actually saw Jesus as 'interfering' with his lifestyle. Tortured though he was, the evil spirit within him didn't want to leave him. Jesus wasn't put off by the demons asking to stay. "Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.” Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place." (vs. 9-10) Why was this man's healing so long coming? Why is our deliverance so long coming? Could it be that Jesus is just waiting for us to be honest about what it is that is troubling us? 

At first, the demons did not want to leave - they had become comfortable right where they were. There was a 'willing host' and they weren't excited to be leaving. What do we hold onto that has become comfortable to us that is actually holding us back, bringing us down, and causing us so much misery. Like the man tormented by so many demons, we might just need to identify what it is and then be willing to let it go! The demons leave the man at Jesus' command and enter a herd of pigs, who promptly run wildly from their keepers and straight off a cliff. Nothing remains when Jesus utters the words of deliverance, my friends. We can rest assured that whatever it is that troubles our hearts is of concern to Jesus and his word is all it takes to change the course of what has been happening within us.

The man was free. The pig keepers were stunned. The crowds were amazed, but also a bit afraid. Why? When God displays his power in our lives, it can be a little frightening at times. We may not understand how he works, but we can always see evidence of his work. The change may be immediate, like it was for this man, but it could be gradual in revealing itself. Either way, our commission is to go and tell - all that Jesus has done in us is a message of what he can do in others, as well. Just sayin!