Leave or Stay?

 

"And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him  to leave their region" (Matthew 8:34 ESV).

It looks pretty good - "the whole city came out to meet Jesus."  How ironic that the general consensus was that they did not want Him around.  They came to expel Him from their region.  They begged Him to leave!

Those statements made me want to cry.  Jesus promised us He'd be with us always and wherever we are.  He said He'd never leave us nor forsake us.  He said we're His friends (see Matthew 28:20; Joshua 1:9; Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5 and John 15:15).

Has He done something so extra ordinary in your life that stunned you to the core and you can no longer stand to be around Him and You want Him to leave? 

Jesus had commanded the exceedingly wild, demon-possessed man's demons to leave him.  They went.  They went into the swine that promptly ran down a steep hill into the sea and drowned (see Matthew 8:28 and 8:34 ESV).

The man was sitting clothed and in his right mind, listening to what Jesus had to say.  Totally phenomenal!  OR, what is it in our lives that we don't want Jesus to know so that we hide like Adam and Eve once tried?  We want Him to leave.  Sad?  I feel so.

Hopefully in our personal life, our family life and in our church life, we do not, as a "whole city," beg Jesus to leave.

May He ever be our guide, staying close to our side!  Actually, He stays put.  Never forget it.  It's us who are the ones to drift and wander away.  We can go back to Him though  even after we've "sown wild oats".

In humble repentance seek Him and make your confessions.  He will forgive (see 1 John 1:9).  Take Him at His word.  Just remember, that is God's very costly grace that allows a follower of Jesus Christ to do so.  Never forget this too.

Jesus, keep me near the cross, reminding me of that extra-ordinary act of love, mercy and grace You bestowed upon me.  Thank You for never leaving me and being with me wherever I go.  Amen.

                                                       ~ ERC  April 2025 ~

Based on Matthew 8:34 ESV.

Sing, Near the Cross, along with Reawaken Hymns.