LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil
Wednesday 1st June 2022
A MAN OF CONTRADICTION
Scripture Reading: Mark 5
When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” Mark 5:6–7
Many times when we come to the Lord for help and deliverance, we express contradictory attitudes. On the one hand, we yearn for God’s help and on the other hand, we reject God’s rule over our lives. The demon-harassed man who came to Jesus did both.
1. He acknowledged Christ:
▪ He identified the Lord. He called Jesus by His right designation.
▪ He run towards the Lord. He seemed to want to draw near to the Lord.
▪ He worshipped the Lord. He bowed to the Lord Jesus and offered himself to the Lord.
These were all positive responses. He knew who Jesus was and appreciated His power to deliver. After such a positive acknowledgement, however, he did something very strange.
2. He rejected Christ:
▪ He wanted Jesus out of his life.
▪ He was afraid of being punished.
It is obvious that these two responses towards Christ – one of acknowledgement and the other of rejection – were coming from two different sources.
The voice that longed for the Lord and sought for help was the voice of the man. Inside his tortured being, this man in the tombs truly longed for God and for deliverance. Like him, all human beings yearn for God. Each of us has a voice inside of us that acknowledges God and seeks for Him.
The other voice that rejected God, was the voice of the unclean spirit that governed the man’s life. It was a spirit that did not want to have anything to do with God. People who reject God are people who have allowed the enemy to gain control over their thoughts and voices.
Thankfully Jesus knew the difference between the voice of the man and the voice of the unclean spirit controlling the man.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come to you with all my heart. Set me free from every sin and bad habit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.