DOES YOUR FAMILY KNOW WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU?
When Jesus freed the man living in the tombs of the Gedarenes of demon possession, he begged to go with Jesus. The man had been living in terrible misery, possessed by so many demons that they answered, “Legion” when Jesus asked their name.
Yet Jesus instructed him to go home and bear witness to his family of what great things God had done for him. Luke’s gospel shared that the man obeyed Jesus and “proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.” Mark’s gospel further noted that the man “began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed” (Mark 5:20). The “Decapolis” referred to the “Ten Cities” largely inhabited by Gentiles on the East side of the Sea of Galilee. So the former demoniac became a great evangelist for Jesus among his people.
The instruction to “go back to your family” is similar to what Christ told His disciples on the day of His ascension. As He departed from them, He told them to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the whole world (Acts 1:8). In other words, Jesus told them to begin their gospel witness at home and then work outward to the whole world.
We are still called to begin our Christian witness at our own house. Does your family know what God has done for you? Have you told your spouse, your children, your family how Jesus saved you?
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for saving us and setting us free from sin’s wages. Help us to boldly bear witness to what great things You have done for us. And help us to begin at home. In Jesus’ name, amen.