I've been studying the mercy of God recently and I was challenged this morning not only by this man's response to the mercy of God but also how he immediately followed Jesus not in His own way but in the way that Jesus instructed him.
". . .the man who had been demon-possessed was entreating Him (Jesus) that he might accompany Him. And He did not let him, but He said to him, "Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you." And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him' and everyone marveled." Mark 5:18-20
When Jesus was leaving the place where this demon-possessed man had been healed, the man was begging and earnestly pleading that he might be able to accompany Jesus. His one desire and prayer was to follow Jesus. Now, what caught my attention, was the fact that even though Jesus said "no" to his request. At the very same time, He also said "yes" to the true desire and heart of the matter, which was his desire to follow after Jesus.
". . .If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." Luke 9:23 This word deny here means "to forget one's self and lose sight of one's own interest." Jesus says that following Him, requires laying down all our own pursuits of self-glory and seeking His glory alone. A cross is choosing to completely surrender every area on the alter, daily. "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me." Matthew 10:38
This cross is complete death to ourselves. It's no longer your life but His life living through you. I was challenged by this man's response when Jesus told him "no" to a seemingly good desire. He choose to continue to follow Jesus and immediately proclaim what Jesus Christ had done for him. Why? Because, that's what Jesus asked him to do and he had chosen to take up his cross and follow the Savior, even though it was different than what he had asked for or anticipated, he was obedient. It was no longer about his life and desires but proclaiming and sharing about the goodness and mercy of Jesus Christ to everyone he met. Even though he had desired something different, he chose to die to that desire and fully surrender and submit to whatever the Lord had asked him to do. Taking up our cross and dying daily to our flesh is not an option, it is the cost that is required to follow Him.
Following Jesus is not about what we want to do but rather, we should ask ourselves, how will Jesus be most glorified and exalted by what He's already done and is doing in our lives? Our lives must be fully surrendered to however the Lord sees fit to use us in His kingdom work. Even when it's not what we may have asked for and it seems like he's saying "no", we must remain dependent upon Him, trusting that He always know what is best! Trust Him, He is always good and merciful! He can't change that, because it's not something He does but who He is! He is so worthy to be followed, which requires our daily death so that He can be lifted high through our lives. "The LORD has done great things for us; We are glad." Psalm 126:3 May we always be willing to be fully available and surrendered to whatever the Lord may ask of us.
