a blog for Ashfield Baptist Church
The Bible readings for Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 August are -- Dt 14:22-16:22; Psalm 43:1-5; Prov 10:26-27; Lk 8:26-56.
Labels: evangelism, obedience/disobedience
posted by Ps John @ 11:08 PM
2 Comments
Hi and welcome. Ashfield Baptist Church is a "caring community church sharing God's love". We are very diverse in our nationalities, backgrounds and ages, but united in our desire to grow spiritually and to reach out and help others. Our vision is "to be a body of Christ-like people living out the great commandment and the great commission in the Holy Spirit's power". This blog is mainly for people connected with Ashfield Baptist Church. It has been set up as an "info & chat space" as we start the "THRU IN 2" challenge. This is our program for reading the Bible right through during 2007 & 2008. Many are using the Every Day With Jesus Bible which also has daily devotions from Selwyn Hughes. As we read through the Bible together over these two years, we can use this blog to share insights, stories, reflections, questions etc. The goal is to grow spiritually together. So leave your comments. Together we can help each other grow. Blessings. Ps John. To leave a comment about the readings for a particular day, or to view the comments of others, just click on "comments" at the bottom of the post.
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Instruction about tithe has this interesting verse: "There will, however, be no one in need among you, because the Lord is sure to bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you as a possession to occupy..." Note also the blessing in 4 and 6, particularly "you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you" in v6. This must have been in the forefront of their minds during Jesus' time as they were under Roman rule.
But reading the rest of the passage, the community of Israel was supposed to be looking after the needy. By the time Jesus came, it is clear this wasn't happening. There were people begging everywhere (often disadvantaged through disability in addition to their poverty). I can't believe that everyone begging that Jesus came across was a foreigner and so didn't need to be forgiven their debt.
They seemed to have forgotten the condition in v5: "if only you will obey the Lord your God by diligently obeying this entire commandment that I command you today." A sick society is an indication of sick spirituality.
Legion was not his real name. He called himself that because at the time he was possessed by many demons (Lk 8:30). But Luke never calls him that. He introduces him as "a demon-possessed man" (v27) and later refers to him as "the man from whom the demons had departed" (v38).
After being delivered, he begged to be with Jeus (v38). But, somewhat surprisingly, Jesus said "Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you." (v39). Usually Jesus tells thiose he heals to tell no-one about it. (See Lk 8:56 for example.) That's because he doesn't want the Jews to get the wrong idea about his Messiahship. But the man formerly known as Legion is a Gentile, from a Gentile area. Jesus sends him back to his own people as a witness. In fact, as a "missionary" -- the first to the Gentiles! No training or discipling. Just his experience and testimony and a new-found love for Jesus.
Jesus told him to tell what God had done for him (v39). We can perhaps see even here a claim to divinity by Jesus, or at least, a claim to be doing God's work. Note that the man tells everyone what Jeus did (v39)! He seems to have equated God and Jesus.
I think Luke with his medical background and his concern for Gentiles and outcasts must have loved telling this story.
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