While I was reading Mark the other day, I was hit by something I read, and wanted to share it with you guys! I was in Mark 5, and the story of how Jesus sets free the possessed man stood out to me. Basically, in this chapter, there is a man that is possessed. He stumbles upon Jesus and begs Him to heal him. Jesus does so, by casting the demons into a herd of pigs near by. The man is so excited to be free that he started to search for a way to share what had just happened - to share the good news. He asks Jesus to send him out with Him to spread The Word. But The Lord replies to the man in a unique way.
Mark 5:18-20 “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.”
This man had just been freed from being possessed after so long, of course he wanted to go with Jesus and share what had happened! I would have wanted to, also! But Jesus said no, he needed to stay in his home town and tell everyone there the good news, first.
Often times, I find myself looking forward to the next step, to go somewhere else that God has planned for me. I find myself wishing my life away because I am just so excited and think I am ready for the next phase of life. But God has me where I am right now for a reason.
There is a reason I am still in Branson working as a Protege. Yes, I am excited to see what the next step of my life holds, but I have so much more to do while I am here, before I can move on. I am called to be all in, and finish strong before I can step into the next thing God has planned for me.
I don’t think God was saying "no" to the man, forever, but He was saying "no" as in "not now." I think Jesus meant that he had people to share the news to first, BEFORE he could go with Jesus. He couldn't just drop where he was and move to a bigger place. He needed to be diligent in the little first, just like we do.
So if you take anything from this blog, please hear me on this: Jesus isn’t keeping you hostage where you are at this moment. He has a plan for your life, but you have to be diligent and content in where you are NOW, before you can go somewhere new. He wants you to be all in!