SCRIPTURE:
“As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." (Mark 5:18-19, NIV)

Observations:
I asked myself what were the actions of Jesus?

Jesus was in the process of getting into the boat.
Jesus did not let the man who was healed to go with Him even though he begged Him.
Instead, Jesus tells the man to do three things:
1. Go home to your family.
2. Tell them how much the Lord has done for you.
3. Tell them how much He has had mercy on you.

Interpretations:
I asked myself why Jesus was in the process of getting into the boat?
Jesus had just healed the demon-possessed man and was in the company of crowds that came to see Him. They were afraid of Jesus and pleaded with Jesus to leave after the man was healed and the demons were sent into the pigs. Jesus could have stayed but he did not. He decided to get into the boat to leave. Jesus will not force himself into the lives of people who do not want Him. As the people pleaded Jesus to leave, the man who had been demon-possessed and healed begged to go with him.

I asked myself why Jesus did not let the man who was healed to go with Him?The demon-possessed man was just healed. Even though the people of the region wanted Jesus to leave because they were afraid of Jesus, the man was not afraid of Jesus. Instead, he begged to go with Jesus. The man wanted to do the right thing by going with Jesus. But, Jesus had other plans for the man and would not let him come with Jesus which is evident by point 3.

Jesus wanted the man to reach his family first and let them see how much the Lord has done for him and how merciful He has been to him. The people of the town already rejected Jesus so Jesus decided to leave but asked the man to become His spokesman and witness.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life. The demon-possessed man who was healed was so grateful that he wanted to do things with Jesus. When the town rejected Jesus, it was noble of the man who lived in that area to beg Jesus to go with Jesus in the boat. He wanted to be with the One who had healed him and given him new life. However, Jesus saw things differently. Jesus wanted him to go another avenue and do something else for Him.

What this passage showed me is though I want to do things with Jesus, it is important to remember that Jesus may not want to do things with me at that time. The reasoning is not because Jesus does not like me or does not desire to spend time with me but because He has something better in mind. Jesus loves to spend time with people but He also wants His Gospel to spread.

If we are just doing things with Jesus in our own lives, what happens to the world around us and those that reject Jesus?
Jesus understood that! Even though the town pleaded with Him to leave, He did leave but in His love for humanity, Jesus asked the man to be left behind to carry out His work of sharing the Lord’s power and mercy.

So, if I just do things with Jesus then I do not put myself in a position to do things for Jesus which usually include reaching the lost with testimonies, etc. Jesus did say when you do it for others you have done it for me.

The same principle can be applied to our present lives.

If we as followers of Christ are just doing things with our brothers and sisters in the Lord, what happens to those outside the sphere of influence?
Remember, the man already spent time with Jesus after he was healed so Jesus is not discouraging him from spending time with Him but encouraging him also to reach out to others with what the Lord has done for him in his life.

In the same way, we should not totally abandon spending time with Jesus but to let our time with Jesus EQUIP, ENABLE, and EMPOWER us to do things for Jesus such as reaching the lost, etc. The same goes with being in fellowship with our brothers and sisters. It should be a means to be able to reach the lost as we ourselves are equipped, enabled, and empowered! Otherwise, we just become turtles in a shell who become complacent. Jesus does not want that for you and me.

I ask you now dear friend, will you tell others about the Lord?
Dear friend, Jesus loves you so much and loves spending time with you. Oh, yes He does! He desires to spend time with you so He can equip, enable, and empower you to do things for Him as you spend time with Him. What Jesus loves is reaching out to others with His love. When the demon-possessed man was healed, Jesus not only cared for the man but he cared for the man’s family that He told the man to go to his family and tell them what the Lord did for him and how much mercy He had on him. That is so awesome to know friend. Jesus loves you and me and cares for our families and wants to use us for His work to spread the Good News.

Won’t you do that friend?
Jesus told the man to go to his family and tells us to go and share what the Lord has done in our own lives. We gotta tell somebody what Jesus has done for us as we have been with Jesus, spending time with Him. That is so exciting friend and Jesus wants you to be part of that excitement.

Jesus died for you and me friend so that we can have new life in Christ as Jesus shed His cleansing blood to wash away our sin. It did not end there on the cross but Jesus came back to life on the 3rd day to save all those who come to Him and receive His free gift of grace. Jesus will not abandon us or leave us as orphans in the storm.

When we do not know Jesus as our Lord and Personal Savior, we are like the demon-possessed man because we are trapped in our own sin and shortcomings. But when we run to Jesus, Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith will fix that for us as we fix our eyes on Jesus. He will work in us and through us equipping us, enabling us, and empowering us so now we can share with others how merciful and gracious the Lord Jesus has been to us.

Yes, friend Jesus loves you so much and wants you to tell others about His love for you and them. This Friday of April 18th on the last day of classes, there will be a major evangelistic event on the Bigelow Patio of the William Pitt Union with free food, music, discussions, free literature, etc to share the love of Christ and the Gospel with those that do not know Him. I hope you can join ASIAN CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP and other believers in Christ this Friday for this event! It is for the glory and honor of the Lord to spread His Word.

Listen to the background song, “Gotta Tell Somebody!”

May you be so excited to tell others about Jesus Christ that you cannot stop! Amen!

“Tell Everyone Lord’s Love!” (T.E.L.L)/”Will you tell others about the Lord?”

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I love you so much. Help me to show my love to you in tangible ways. Thank you so much for healing the demon-possessed man and spending time with him in the area you healed him. As you were getting ready to leave, the man wanted to go with you but you had other wonderful plans for him. You cared for his family so much that you wanted him to go and tell his family what wonderful things you Oh Lord had done for him and how merciful you Oh Lord had been towards him. Thank you so much Jesus for your love and mercy. Thank you that you care for our families even when they reject you. You keep putting on our hearts to reach our families. Lord, we cannot tell others about you without your supernatural help. Help us Oh Lord for we gotta tell somebody what you have done for us. Thank you so much Jesus you want to do things with us, you want us to do things with you, and you want us to do things for you. Wow! That is so amazing that you want us to do things for you and want to do things with us! Thank you Jesus! I am so honored and help me not to disappoint you. I thank you Jesus! Thank you for your grace and mercy! Thank you for forgiving us all our sin and saving us as we come to you. Thank you for your healing power in our own lives. Thank you for being part of our life! Thank you for being our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Now is the time of Salvation friend! If you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior or want to rededicate your life to the Lord right now this very moment, won't you pray this prayer with me?

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I have heard that I do not have to be afraid of you. Jesus, I have also heard that you love me and you can help me. Jesus, you know where I have been and what I have done and yet you love me. I am sorry when I have been afraid of you because of my own sin. You do not want me to be afraid of you. Thank you Jesus! You healed the demon-possessed man completely. Thank you Jesus! I am a sinner Lord. I confess to you all my sins. I am so sorry for my sins and ask you to please forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with your cleansing blood and I will be clean again. Wash me Jesus and I will be whiter than snow. Thank you so much Jesus. Please come into my heart and make my heart your home. Live in me please Jesus and help me to live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you Jesus for living in me and I will live for you Lord. Thank you Jesus I am never out of your love and never out of your reach. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior. Please be my Lord and Personal Savior and change me. Thank you we can come to you without fear for you tell us “fear not for I am with you; do not be dismayed, I am your God, for I will uphold you with my victorious right Hand." Thank you Jesus! Thank you so much for being my Lord and Personal Savior! Thanks you have heard my prayers and answered me. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!

Spend time in His word and let the Lord speak to you! Start out in the Gospel of John! You can also check out the Gospel of Mark which are the devotionals I have been going through. Learn from Jesus through study and prayer. Also find yourself a church fellowship and a college fellowship you can be part of where you can be part of a community of believers to supplement your own walk with the Lord. Let it be a Bible-believing and Bible-breathing church! Believe in Bible Live Eternally!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-720-4579

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

Express Your View

.Click picture to read my dad's memoriam:

' I AM ' Series Archives:

What kind of L.I.G.H.T do you follow? (Dec 13, 07, 10:09 a.m.)

"What kind of B.R.E.A.D do you eat?" (Dec 08, 07, 10:10 a.m.)

"Who is your S.H.E.P.H.E.R.D?" (June 30, 06)

Gospel of Mark Archives:

Mark 1:1: "What does the G.O.S.P.E.L mean to you?" (Jan 15, 08, 1:15 p.m.)

Mark 1:1-4: "How seriously do you T.E.S.T.I.F.Y about prophesy?" (Jan 12, 08, 11:18 p.m.)

Mark 1:5-8: "Who do you P.O.I.N.T to?" (Jan 16, 08, 8:48 a.m.)

Mark 1:9: How will you take a S.T.A.N.D? (Jan 17, 08, 11:21 a.m.)

Mark 1:9-11: "How is your loving P.R.A.I.S.E?" (Jan 18, 08, 8:53 a.m.)

Mark 1:12-13: "How do you handle T.E.M.P.T.A.T.I.O.N?" (Jan 19, 08, 12:27 p.m.)

Mark 1:14-15: How do you handle T.I.M.E given to you? (Jan 21, 08, 1:31 p.m.)

Mark 1:16-18: "What kind of P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N are you in?" (Jan 26, 08, 10:22 a.m.)

Mark 1:19-20: "Without having to P.R.O.C.R.A.S.T.I.N.A.T.E, what should you do?" (Jan 29, 08, 10:44 a.m.)

Mark 1:20-22: "How do you rate in the B.U.S.I.N.E.S.S of Jesus?" (Jan 30, 08, 11:29 a.m.)

Mark 1:20-22: "Whose T.E.A.C.H.I.N.G.S do you follow?" (Jan 31, 08, 11:52 a.m.)

Mark 1:23-28: "What C.A.P.T.I.V.I.T.Y are you facing today?" (Feb 01, 08, 10:35 a.m.)

Mark 4:3-20: "What if Jesus talked F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L?" (Feb 02, 08, 10:35 a.m.)

Mark 1:29-31: "Where do you need H.E.A.L.I.N.G?" (Feb 05, 08, 11:44 a.m.)

Mark 1:32-34: "Where do you need an A.N.S.W.E.R?" (Feb 06, 08, 11:16 a.m.)

Mark 1:35-39: "Where do you give your S.O.L.I.T.A.R.Y time to the Lord?" (Feb 07, 08, 11:41 a.m.)

Mark 1:40-42: "Where do you need to be C.L.E.A.N?" (Feb 09, 08, 11:00 a.m.)

Mark 1:43-45: "What do your actions C.A.U.S.E?" (Feb 11, 08, 9:23 a.m.)

MARK CHAPTER 2:

Mark 2:1-2: "What do you do with your P.O.P.U.L.A.R.I.T.Y?" (Feb 12, 08, 9:52 a.m.)

Mark 2:2-5: "What kind of F.R.I.E.N.D are you?" (Feb 13, 08, 11:49 a.m.)

Mark 2:5-12: "Where does P.A.R.A.L.Y.S.I.S take hold of you?" (Feb 15, 08, 7:42 a.m.)

Mark 2:5-12: "What are you thinking in your M.I.N.D?" (Feb 16, 08, 11:08 a.m.)

Mark 2:5-12: "What do you represent by your A.C.T.I.O.N.S?" (Feb 18, 08, 8:23 a.m.)

Mark 2:13-15: "Where are you looking for A.C.C.E.P.T.A.N.C.E?" (Feb 19, 08, 11:22 a.m.)

Mark 2:15-17: "Who do you I.N.V.I.T.E to Jesus?" (Feb 20, 08, 9:57 a.m.)

Mark 2:18-20: "When do you F.A.S.T?" (Feb 21, 08, 9:32 a.m.)

Mark 2:21-22: "How do you see your L.I.F.E?" (Feb 22, 08, 9:56 a.m.)

Mark 2:23-28: "What kind of L.E.A.D.E.R will you be? (Feb 23, 08, 10:46 a.m.)

Mark 2:23-28: "What does the S.A.B.B.A.T.H mean to you?" (Feb 25, 08, 10:46 a.m.)

CHAPTER 3:

Mark 3:1-6:"Whose N.E.E.D.S do you meet?" (Feb 26, 08, 9:54 a.m.)

Mark 3:7-8: "What is your I.M.P.A.C.T?" (Feb 27, 08, 8:17 a.m.)

Mark 3:9-11: "What S.P.A.C.E do you give yourself?" (Feb 28, 08, 9:38 a.m.)

Mark 3:11-12: "How do you fight E.V.I.L?" (Feb 29, 08, 9:11 a.m.)

Mark 3:13-16: "What emphasis do you put on your R.E.L.A.T.I.O.N.S.H.I.P with Jesus?" (March 01, 08, 9:29 a.m.)

Mark 3:17-19: "Where do you have your A.P.P.O.I.N.T.M.E.N.T in?" (March 03, 08, 9:49 a.m.)

Mark 3:20: "Where do you G.A.T.H.E.R?" (March 04, 08, 12:07 p.m.)

Mark 3:21: "How are your actions seen by your F.A.M.I.L.Y?" (March 05, 08, 10:24 a.m.)

Mark 3:22-27: "How do you handle S.L.A.N.D.E.R?" (March 06, 08, 7:57 a.m.)

Mark 3:28-30: "What is your V.I.E.W of Jesus?" (March 07, 08, 8:18 a.m.)

Mark 3:31-34: "What do you do with God's Will?" (March 08, 08, 8:45 a.m.)

CHAPTER 4:
Mark 4:1-20: "What do P.A.R.A.B.L.E.S mean to you?" (March 10, 08, 7:15 a.m.)

Mark 4:1-20: "What if Jesus talked F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L?" (Feb 02, 08, 10:35 a.m.)

Mark 4:1-20: "Where are you in your W.A.L.K with the Lord?" (March 11, 08, 9:32 a.m.)

Audio: "Where are you in your W.A.L.K with the Lord?" (March 11, 08, 11:05 a.m.)

Mark 4:21-23: "What kind of L.A.M.P will you be?" (March 12, 08, 9:40 a.m.)

Audio: "What do you C.O.N.C.E.A.L?" (March 14, 08, 10:11 a.m.)

"What do you C.O.N.C.E.A.L?" (March 14, 08, 8:52 a.m.)

John 12:12-15: "How can you B.L.E.S.S the Lord?" (March 17, 08, 1:25 a.m.)

Philippians 2:8: "What does the C.R.O.S.S mean to you?" (March 20, 08, 1:16 p.m.)

"How do you handle D.O.U.B.T.S?" (March 25, 08, 12:36 p.m.)

Mark 4:24-25: "What do you do with what you H.E.A.R?" (March 31, 08, 8:39 a.m.)

Mark 4:26-29: "What do you do with the W.O.R.D of God?" (April 05, 08, 10:18 a.m.)

Mark 4:30-34: "What do you do with the S.E.E.D?" (April 07, 08, 11:48 a.m.)

Mark 4:35-41: "What are the S.T.O.R.M.S in your life?" (April 08, 08, 11:52 a.m.)

CHAPTER 5:

Mark 5:1-13: "Where is your T.O.R.M.E.N.T coming from?" (April 09, 08, 11:50 a.m.)

Mark 5:14-17: "Where do you need H.E.A.L.I.N.G?" (April 11, 08, 11:46 a.m.)

Mark 5:14-17: "What do people R.E.P.O.R.T about you?" (April 12, 08, 11:00 a.m.)

Mark 5:18-19: "What makes you A.F.R.A.I.D of Jesus?" (April 14, 08, 10:40 a.m.)

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EXPRESSIONS

Video: Delta Zeta Deliciously Delivers Lusciously with Lambda Chi Alpha

Video: Chi Omega's Operation Offers Nothin' But a Gangsta Party at Kappa Alpha Psi's Place

“Tell Everyone Lord’s Love! (T.E.L.L)”

By Ramesh C.ReddyPittsburgh StandardApril 15, 2008

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Express Your View

By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

April 15, 2008