As we journey together through Lent, Christians throughout Columbia will be sharing their own beautifully written personal meditations. Each will be accompanied by a corresponding scripture reading, and be linked to that passage in the Holy Bible. If you would like to join us on Columbia’s Lenten journey, please submit your personal meditation by email. Especially meaningful submissions will be printed. Let us continue our Lenten journey, day by day, to its glorious culmination on Easter Sunday.
Scripture reading: Mark 5:1-20
In today’s Gospel selection from Mark, several things stand out, not the least of which is that we often may not understand what God wants to do with us. When the man possessed by many demons sees Jesus, he falls on his knees and shouts, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear that you won’t torture me!!”
We, too, may sometimes shy away from God and His will. Perhaps we fear that to embrace His will may reveal truths we would prefer to ignore or call us to actions we would rather avoid. We must realize, however, that Jesus is willing to do for all of us exactly what He did for this man if we only will let Him. Jesus saved the man.
The possessed man was so controlled by his demons that no one was strong enough to subdue him. In today’s world, we may not often hear of someone being possessed by demons. Yet we must not be ignorant of the fact that demons are very much among us, constantly trying to dissuade us from God’s truth and His promise of eternal life. The demons of today’s secular world come in many forms and are on constant display: Materialism, envy and gluttony are a few prime examples. Today’s demons are omnipresent and compete for our souls virtually every minute of every day. We often forget that God is also omnipresent, if only we choose to believe and accept His Word. By turning to God, we can defeat our demons. But simply turning to God is not all we should do.
Today’s passage also serves as a reminder of our responsibility as Christians to share God’s truth and love with others. Jesus tells the man, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has worked mercy upon you.” Many of us know that the Lord has worked miracles in our own lives, but we may be reluctant to share our stories with others who have chosen to ignore the Lord and fervently embrace the secular world. Even though the poor results of abstaining from God and His Word are manifested for all to see. We often worry that sharing our faith in a meaningful way may cause others to think we are strange. Perhaps that is not such a bad thing!
If all who embrace the Lord and His Word speak up and share their stories of how the Lord has worked in their lives, surely the world would be a better place.
Ashley and Will Thomas
Columbia, South Carolina
You might also like to read:
- Bible Verse of the Day
- Daily Bible Guide
- Growing in Christ
- Bible Study Tools Online
- The Jesus Walk Bible Study Series
A discussion of today’s Lenten meditation is encouraged. If you would like to participate, please feel free to write a comment in the space below. There are many different outlooks and interpretations of scripture passages and, the more we share, the more we learn.
Sharon is a member of the Community Church of the Midlands that meets at Seven Oaks Community Center at 200 Leisure Lane in Columbia and is a frequent participant, with her husband Douglas, at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral located at 1100 Sumter Street in Columbia.
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If you enjoyed this article, you can find more at Sharon's Columbia Biblical Studies Examiner homepage.
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