Everyone
is telling something. Talk shows; social media, news networks, texting,
magazines, periodicals, mobile apps, news alerts…there is no scarcity of news.
In addition to those who are telling there are those who are listening…there is
a desire to know what is happening, what is being said or what’s not being
said. I have watch several persons whose attention is constantly on their
mobile devices catching up on the latest tweets. There is no scarcity of news…good
and bad.
For
over two years I have been conducting a weekly Bible study on Wednesdays in the
Gospel of Luke. We began the study on Ash Wednesday intending to do it for the
Lenten season. So we started our study in chapter 9:51 which informs us of Jesus’
deliberate decision to go to Jerusalem knowing that He was going to be
crucified. Since then, we have completed the book and we resumed our study at
chapter one. We are now in chapter eight.
Our recent study was the account of
the deliverance of the Gerasenes demoniac (8:26-39).
That
whole account actually began with Jesus telling the disciples to sail to the
other side of the lake, 8:22. While on their way they encountered a storm which
threatened their lives. Jesus was sleeping in the boat (I cannot imagine where
He found a place to sleep on such small vessel) during the storm. In their
fear, the disciples woke Him up and pretty much accused him of not caring that
they were going to die. (If anyone was in danger of dying it would have been
the sleeping passenger). Jesus spoke directly to the storm and it ceased. They
did not abort the trip. They continued to the other side.
Upon
arriving on the shores, Jesus was met by a man who was possessed by
demons…legion. A legion could include between four to six thousand troops.
Through direct command again, Jesus delivered the man from this severe case of
demonic possession. There was some loss to valuable assets in the process
because an entire herd of pigs were drowned in the lake due to the demons that
came out of the man and entered them.
Now
comes the time of reporting. The swineherds went to the city and reported what
had happened. The citizens came out to see what had happened. They saw the man who
was healed. He was sitting down at the feet of Jesus; he was clothed and he was
in his right mind. The response of the people was fear. A human, a person was
made well. The people saw the healed man. But his healing meant nothing to
them. Instead of celebrating the amazing healing of the man, they became fearful
and most likely concerned that there could be the possibility of more economic
loss should any more demons got into more pigs. So they asked Jesus to leave
their region.
The
man who was healed was now begging Jesus to allow him to leave the area with
Him. Instead of allowing him to leave with Him, Jesus told him to go home and
report of the great things that God had done for him. At that very moment,
there were several things that could be reported. But Jesus’s instructions to
the man was very specific: “…describe what great things God has done for you”.
The man could have reported about the drowning of the pigs; he could have
reported the actions and request of the people. However, he was told to report
what God had done for him. Jesus knew that it would be of greater worth to talk
about what He had done than what the people or the demons had done.
Not
everything needs to be reported. Some reports only stir up strife; some stir up
anger; some endanger our souls because they make us gossipers and tale bearers.
When we choose to report what God has done for us we become messengers of hope
and blessings. Isaiah describes the beauty of the feet of the one who spreads
good news: “How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good
news, who announces peace and brings news of happiness, who announces salvation
and says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns’”, 52:7.
The decision not to report some
things may displease some people because they take pleasure in negative things.
By being intentional to make known only what God has done places us on the
Highway of holiness. It takes away the opportunity from Satan to breed discord
and dissension. The next time you give a report, make sure it is about what God
has done for you. You can’t say the wrong thing in talking about what God has
done.
