The Demon-possessed Man
Scripture Reading — Mark 5:1-20
When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. Mark 5:2
Though not everyone acknowledges this today, demons are real. As we learn from the Bible, Jesus dealt with Satan and evil spirits throughout his ministry.
In our reading for today we see a horrible picture of what demons can do to people. A wild and dangerous man controlled by demons came toward Jesus. Jesus asked the man, "What is your name?" Using the man's own voice, the demons answered, "My name is Legion ... for we are many."
"Come out of this man," Jesus commanded, giving the demons permission to go into a herd of pigs nearby. And when the demons did that, they destroyed the whole herd by drowning them.
Demons began as angels, created by God to do good. But they rebelled and became God's enemies. They aim to spoil everything and everyone that glorifies God.
While it's important to know about demons and their destructive power, it can be dangerous to dwell on them, especially to the point of becoming fearful or anxious about them. Since the devil's main goal is to distract us from God and try to destroy us, the devil is happy if we're focusing more on demons than on God.
Above all, we need to remember that Jesus has sovereign power over demons. They cannot stand against him, and he promises to protect us from them.
Lord Jesus, deliver us from Satan and his evil ways. Free us from the influences of demonic or occult activity, and help us to warn others of Satan's deceptions. Amen.
About the author — Roger S. Greenway
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