From the Tombs (Mark 5:1-20)

Demons controlled the man who lived in the tombs. Because of them, he cut himself on rocks, and their combined strength in him caused him to break the chains men put on him. How he must have suffered!

Mark 5:21-43

One day Jesus arrived on a boat, and the man ran to Him and fell at His feet. The demons spoke, and Jesus commanded them to go into a herd of pigs. The people who owned the pigs saw the man dressed and in his right mind. They saw their pigs going over a cliff into the river below. Alarmed, they asked Jesus to leave their vicinity, but the man Jesus delivered begged to follow Him.

Jesus told him to go home and tell all God had done for him. I remember when Jesus rescued me from my despair. Like the man from the tombs, I never wanted to be outside of Jesus' love and presence, but He called me to go and tell all He has done for me.

The good news is, He is always with me. By going and telling, I have not left His presence. Instead, it seems to be manifested when I do what Jesus wants me to do.

Think About It
Have you or someone in your family been sick, sad or lonely? Jesus' love is the answer. I felt the warmth of His love as soon as I said His name from my depression. You can experience new hope and faith too by speaking Jesus' name.

Pray About It
Thank you, Father God, for loving me and sending Jesus into my life. Every day I want more of Him and less of me. Help it be so. Amen.

King Solomon Had it All

When Solomon became King of Israel, he had one prayer--that God would give him wisdom and discernment to govern His people. God said since he didn't ask for wealth, long life or victory over his enemies, he would have all those as well as wisdom. He was the wisest of all the leaders before or since his reign.

King Solomon succeeded his first twenty years, but he failed his last twenty. Do you know why? Because he disobeyed God. In Deuteronomy 17:14-20, God commanded him not to multiply horses or to lead his people back to Egypt to get more, but he did. The possession of many horses was a measure of a king's political power.

God also commanded King Solomon not to have many wives, but he did. He had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. That's a lot of wives and a lot of kids! Image if they all had Macy's credit cards. King Solomon loved all his wives and he married many foreign wives for political protection from their countries. He grew to worship their gods and practice their customs, two things God hated.

God commanded King Solomon not to accumulate a lot of silver and gold, but he did. His annual income was 1.6 billion dollars, three thousand years ago. That is a lot of wealth!

So King Solomon had it all--power, women and wealth. He didn't have purity or a dependence on God. Instead of trusting God, he trusted in his power, possessions and wives. Do you know what King Solomon concluded in his old age? That everything in life was meaningless without God. He had all the worldly treasures a man could dream of but they counted for nothing.

Think About It
The cure for a meaningless life is clinging to God, loving Him more than anything. When we do, we will love others and our lives will have meaning, hope and purpose.

Pray About It
Teach me your ways O God. Show me your paths and help me live according to your will and plan. Amen.