CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 760

“Asked to Leave”

Matthew 8:28-34 (ESV) And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. … Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.

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Have you ever been on a well established and marked hiking trail and decided to go your own way and leave the path to cut through the woods on your own?  When we choose to wander from established paths we leave guidance, direction, and protection behind and rely on our own ability to find our way.  Apart from the path, we are tortured by every thorn bush and tripped up by vines.  Brambles and burrs attach themselves to our clothing and torture us with their needle point thorns.  Apart from the path, we subject ourselves to attack by the wild things of this world.

In our reference Scripture the Gadarenes had wandered from the path of the Law of God.  They were herdsmen of pigs which is a forbidden and unclean animal according to the Law of God for Israel.

Note that when we willfully leave the path of God, we move into the tortuous arms of Satan.  The Gadarenes were plagued by the two men possessed by legions of demons.  Note also, that the Gadarenes preferred their life of sin apart from God’s path.  Jesus got in the way of their profitable business as pig herders and so they asked Him to leave their region.

Does Jesus get in your way?  Like the angel that blocked the path of Balaam and his donkey is the Lord standing in your way to oppose the path you are on?

…the angel of the Lord said to him, “… I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me. – Numbers 22:32

What is your response to the correction of the Lord?  Will you ask Him to leave?  Is the mammon of this world more important than your relationship with God?  Does satisfying the lusts and desires of the flesh outweigh the benefits of obedience to God’s Word?

God’s Word is a light that leads us along His path for us.  Even if we have wandered off on our own, it is not too late to get back on God’s path.  It is in God’s presence that we can begin the process of removing the burrs, ticks, and brambles that have become embedded in our lives.  This is however, a choice we have to make.  We asked Jesus to leave us when we wandered off.  He remains ready and willing to forgive and welcome us back.  When Jesus approaches you and confronts you with the evidence of your sin as He did to the Gadarenes, will you ask Him to leave or respond as the Psalmist did?

You have made known to me the path of life…Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path …Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. – Psa 16:11; 27:11; 119:105

May you return to the narrow road, the way and the truth and the life that is Jesus Christ.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & dedication of your work to the glory of God.