Welcome to the daily devotional we have. This is a learning process for me as I go along and I hope you can join me. I will pick a devotional on www.bible.com (feel free to go there and pick the same reading plan) and be posting the verse(s), devotional, and my own personal commentary. Feel free to leave your own commentary in the comments as I would love to read your guys thoughts. Also, I will have a video that relates to the devotional.
This devotional is titled “Catalyst-Known: A 21 Day Journey”. It is 21 days long. I use the ESV bible but feel free to use the version of your choosing.
Verses
Mark 5:1-20
“They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” And Jesus asked him,“What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.
The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.”
Devotional
When it comes to living out your calling, your story is an important part of God’s story. The specific ways God has worked in your life are tangible examples of his love and faithfulness. These experiences shape your calling. They help you realize how God can use you in the most effective ways. Let’s look at an example of this in Mark 5. Let’s focus on what Jesus does for him and what Jesus tells him to do.
Main Passage: Mark 5.1-20
Reflection:
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What did Jesus tell the man to do in verse 19?
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Which of your own personal transformational experiences have been or could be meaningful to others? When have you/could you share them?
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Ask God to provide opportunities to listen to others and share what God has done for you.
Commentary
Testimony. That is what the devotional is about today. Your testimony that you can share with others. How has becoming a Christ follower changed your life? How did it happen in the first place? I always went to church growing up, however I was lukewarm for the longest time until a couple years ago when I got tired of just being okay. I wanted to live for Him and do what He had called me to do. This made a drastic difference in my life, but it was not overnight. Heck, I still have some changing to do. No one is perfect and everyone can improve and I do see that with myself at times when I mess up. However, I know I am forgiven and that God loves me all the same.