Warriors Arise: April 16, 2024
Matthew 8:30-33 Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.”
And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.
Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men.
If you were one of the herdsmen of the swine, what would you do? There is a whole lot that just happened that would create fear.
Jesus just put them out of a job! How would they ever get hired as a herdsman again? They lost their job. All of the swine they were keeping watch over were gone. Not just gone but dead. They ran into the sea. What were they going to tell their boss?
How would they explain this? They had to tell of the demon-possessed men.
Who would believe them? It was a crazy story. Then people would have to see for themselves. They needed validated. They needed to get another job. They were probably generational herdsmen. What would they do for a job? It wasn't their fault the swine ran into the sea. They needed validated.
This reminds me of the woman at the well. When Jesus tells her things of her past, things He couldn't have known, she goes into the city and everyone comes out to see Jesus. They tell her they believe not because of her word but because they saw Jesus with their own eyes. They came out and validated her word. These herdsman went into the city and told everyone. They didn't just tell their boss. They told everyone.
It was too unbelievable. People didn't believe them because of their word, they went out to see what had happened. It would have been difficult to believe all of the swine had run into the sea at the same time and died, let alone, the two demon-possessed men, whose they all knew about and had seen, were now free of the demons!
If the first story isn't enough, the second one is compelling. They had to validate the entire story. It was just too crazy to be real. Yet, it was real. It did happen just as they said. The swine were dead in the sea and the two demon-possessed men were in their right mind and clothed.
What does it take for you to go and see the miraculous act of God? At what point would you be motivated to go check it out for yourself? Or would you say, "That isn't possible," and return back to whatever you were doing before the story was told? Would you ridicule them for losing their herd? Would you call them incompetent? Would you laugh at them, "Good luck in finding work!" Would it be so difficult to believe in the miracle that you would condemn them in your mind without validating their word?
My Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. You have done some miraculous things in my life and I have given testimony of them. Many times I have received ridicule and judgement without even the slightest notion to validate my testimony. I want my testimony to compel others to see what You have done. I want my testimony to motivate them to pursue You. I want to be validated, not for my own need, but of their need. If they will validate the miracle, then they have the opportunity to believe in what You can do. At some point, they will need the God who can do the miraculous. I want them to remember my testimony and what You did, so they can believe for what they need in Jesus' Name, amen.
I would love for you to testify of the miraculous God has done in your life in the comments.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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