Kingdom Building

June 23, 2019

Scripture Reading: Luke 8:26-39

When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.’ So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him. –Luke 8:34-39

I think we can understand why they wanted Jesus to leave after destroying the swine herd but now we must deal with his leaving to poor guy he healed to introduce the people who had not previously helped him to a God of love. One of my favorite songs in Andraé Crouch’s My Tribute explains the witness power of one who has experienced God’s love in an unjust world:

How can I say thanks
for the things You have done for me?
Things so undeserved,
yet You gave to prove Your love for me;
the voices of a million angels
could not express my gratitude.
All that I am and ever hope to be,
I owe it all to Thee.

To God be the glory,
to God be the glory,                                                                                                                                       :
to God be the glory
for the things He has done.
With His blood He has saved me,
with His power He has raised me;
to God be the glory
for the things He has done.

Just let me live my life,
let it pleasing, Lord to Thee,
ad if I gain any praise,
let it go to Calvary.

Christ calls all of us to witness within our communities our experience of God’s love and to enable those throughout the world to witness in their communities the same thing.

Prayer: Lord help us all be conduits of your love. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.