Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: "Smith, Lynn " <lsmith20@Central.UH.EDU>
Sent: Sun, 11 May 2008 08:46:24 -0500
To: "Smith, Lynn " <lsmith20@Central.UH.EDU>
Subject: Morning Manna May 12-BP: Lk. 8:26-40; RBTTY: Jn. 3:1-18; II Kings 15-16
May 12 “Discipleship’s Difficulties”
“Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought Him that he might be with Him; but, Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return to your own house and show what great things God has done unto you.’ And he went his way and published throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done unto him.”
Luke 8:38-39
It’s the hardest place to be a witness, but the greatest ground for growing in God’s grace.
Home.
Years ago the mere mention of the word brought to mind an inviting place like that of John Boy and his family on Walton’s mountain: A two-story house with a wrap-around porch. . .sitting at the edge of a meadow, surrounded by trees. . .with a light burning in the window at night for anyone who might have lost their way.
Times have certainly changed, haven’t they?!?
Yes, nowadays a home (sadly) too often is little more than a bed-n-breakfast, where the “residents” greet each other in passing as they head to work or school. . .or to their individual rooms to sit in front of the computer, t.v., read a book, listen to music, etc. We’ve definitely become “detached” or “isolated” from each other.
And, (sadly again), we’ve become increasingly more critical of each other.
Yet, in some ways, it’s always been that way—i.e., that it’s much more difficult being a witness for Christ at home than it is anywhere else.
Why is that?
Simply because those who live under the same roof with us know us. . .really, really know us. . .when our make-up’s not on. . .our hair’s not combed. . .our teeth are unbrushed. . .and we’ve yet to have that first cup of coffee in the morning.
They’ve seen us at our best. And, they’ve seen us at our worst.
Could it be that that’s one of the reasons Legion wanted to go with Jesus that day? Could it be that he was thinking/saying to himself, “Man, I’ve not lost anywhere in this place! Instead of trying to help me be free of the demons within me, those guys bound me and tried to beat the devil out of me (v.29)! And, instead of rejoicing with me when they found me clothed and in my right mind, sitting at Jesus’ feet, they were more concerned about their stinking pigs and getting Jesus out of town (vv.33-37)!”?
Even so, instead of saying, “Come, follow Me” to Legion, Jesus said “Go back home and tell them what great things God has done for you.” The King James used the word “published” for what Legion did after going home—which is taken from the Grk. word “kerusso” and basically means “to proclaim, be a herald of, broadcast, etc.”—which means he was to be a witness. His presence there made him a “walking billboard” for God’s grace; his verbal witness gave glory to the One Who’d transformed him.
Oh, dear Pilgrim, the greatest evidence of the Gospel is a changed life. And, the greatest way to silence our critics is by our actions, not our words. May the Lord Jesus help us to view our home as the perfect place for growing into His likeness.
Thanks,
Mr. Lynn M. Smith
Department Business Administrator
Department of Economics
204C McElhinney Hall
(713) 743-3802 (office)
(713) 743-3798 (fax)
LSmith20@central.uh.edu (email)
http://www.class.uh.edu/econ/ (department website)
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