by Pastor Cecil | Aug 1, 2019 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 4:14
“I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.”
I once noticed a young man backing out of his parking space with a gallon of milk teetering on the top of his car. I stopped behind him and honked my horn, but he appeared unaware of what I was trying to tell him. I honked again and motioned for him to roll down his window. Again he failed to understand. Other people were now honking and trying to get his attention.
Ignoring everyone’s efforts to warn him, the young man continued backing toward me. Just as he was about to hit my car someone ran up to his window, grabbed the gallon of milk and showed it to him. Disaster was diverted and the man was able to return home with the milk that had come so close to splattering on the ground.
The honking did not work. The motions did not work. The shouting did not work. It was not until someone grabbed the milk and handed it to the driver that he stopped and received it. All around us there are folks who leave the milk of God’s Word outside their lives. It is heartbreaking to observe as they refuse to heed our warnings. Perhaps it is because we stay too far away and fail to get close enough to hand the milk to them.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 1, 2019 | Mark
Mark 5:20
“And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.”
On the way to the land inhabited by the Gerasenes the disciples encountered a storm that was worse than anything they had ever experienced. They were certain their boat was about to be swamped and all of them would drown. In Mark, chapter four, we read about how Jesus calmed the storm (another one of His many miracles).
When the disciples’ boat finally arrived on the shore, they were greeted by a demon possessed man with super-human strength. Knowing who Jesus was and recognizing His authority, the demons begged to go into a herd of swine. Jesus granted their request (which demonstrates to us the power He has over demonic forces).
The man, now delivered and free from the demons, was so grateful that he begged Jesus to allow him to follow Him. Jesus declined, but told him to go home and tell his family. In today’s Scripture we read that the man went far beyond. He began to preach to the ten cities of the region.
We have no idea who this man was, but I eagerly look forward to seeing him in heaven to hear how it felt to be changed from maniac to minister to the Gerasenes.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
