Devotional Guide
For the week of November 26, 2006
DOES CHRIST HAVE RIGHTS?
To preach with power
To read the Bible in one year, today read: Colossians 3,4
To Know:
³But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ŒBe silent, and come out of him!¹ And when
the demon had thrown him down in the midst, he came out of him, having done
him no harm.² (Lk.4: 35)
In November of 1999, I sat in what is left of the ancient synagogue at
Capernaum. 2000 years ago a demonized man might have been sitting in my
seat. Back then Jesus was the guest preacher. What did the Savior preach
that so infuriated the possessed man? Did Jesus preach the same sermon he
had delivered at Nazareth? At Nazareth Jesus revealed himself to be the
Christ. Nothing enrages those in darkness like the name of Jesus Christ. At
Nazareth the townspeople meant to throw him from the cliff. The demonized
man would not tolerate the demand to surrender to the Savior. This man had
no intention of surrendering himself to anyone. The essence of the demonic
is taking total ownership of self. We cannot wonder that he shouted the
Savior down.
³What have you to do with us?² shrieked the demoniac. Jesus¹ presence was
painful. Christ continually reminds us that we do not belong to ourselves.
³What have you to do with us?² is a question Jesus came to answer. Our
culture asks, ³What have you to do with those forming in the womb?² He
answers, ³Everything.² Our culture asks, ³Who are you to call false every
other world religious teacher?² He answers, ³Every right.² Again he is
asked, ³What right do you have to condemn my chosen way of life?² Jesus
answers, ³That is exactly my right.² The outrage of the spiritually
deranged man beats in every sinful breast. The demoniac wanted Jesus out of
his life and so does every unrepentant soul.
To Do:
To preach the gospel with power it is necessary to show how desperately we
need the forgiveness of God for believing he has no right to rule us.
To Ask:
Father, I would have you remove every objection to the rule of Christ from
my heart. Make me like a little child.
11306$-11306
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