The Invitation
Saturday, September 12, 2009
by Dr. Paul Chappell
"And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts."
Matthew 8:28-34
Only a person wholly committed to God will be able to see God's fullest blessings in their life.
Have you ever been given an invitation to an event? Perhaps it was a company picnic, a birthday party, or a wedding. I'm sure we've all been given invitations to certain events. When it's an event you're excited about, you keep the invitation around, maybe post it on the refrigerator, or mark it down on the calendar. But what do you do with an unwanted invitation? Like most people, I'm sure you throw it away and forget about it. Invitations can either be be accepted or rejected. Today, let's notice an invitation that was rejected.
Christ had traveled through a storm to get across the Sea of Galilee and reach the country of the Gergesenes as our verses state. He had come to minister to the people there and teach them of His Father. One of the first people He meets in the land were two demon-possessed people. But notice what the devils had to say to the Lord, "What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?" Right away, the devils recognized Jesus as the Son of God who had the power to remove them from these people's lives.
Jesus said one word, "Go" and the devils departed from these people. Christ had the power to heal these people with one word. How could anyone not believe His authority as the Son of God? Even the devils proclaimed it! Yet sadly, many people still did not believe His claims to be God's Son and they responded accordingly, "they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts."
What a sad statement. The Son of God had come to them to minister and teach them yet they rejected His invitation of help. They had witnessed His power, heard the devils proclaim His name, yet they rejected His work in their land. I wonder what great things they missed out on because of their rejection of Jesus?
God has made a similar invitation to you. As a Christian, He invites you to trust Him, follow Him, and enjoy the blessings of a life wholly submitted to Him. Yet sadly, many Christians reject that invitation. They witness His work in the lives of others, see His hand on His church, and read of the blessings of His Word; yet they have never personally accepted His invitation to submit their lives to Him.
Have you wholly submitted your life to God, giving Him complete control of your life? Only a person wholly committed to God will be able to see God's fullest blessings in their life.
God has invited you to experience a life of meaning, purpose, and unimaginable blessings. He promises that the life He has planned for you will be better than any life you could live on your own. There will be struggles and difficulties, but He promises to go through them with you and strengthen you as a result of them. Will you accept God's invitation to a life of dedication to Him today?
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