| Devotional Hours with the Bible |
Chapter 21 |
Page 6 |
It is strange how the people were affected by this miracle. Jesus had come among them to bless them. He would have gone on, working other miracles, if they had been willing. But the loss of the swine was too much for them. There always are people who hate Christ’s religion because it interferes with their wrong business and cuts off the source of their sinful gain. Saloon-keepers oppose revivals because when the devil is cast out of men they do not patronize the saloons any more. But it is always a perilous thing to ask Jesus to go away. He did now as these people asked Him to do — He would not stay where He was not wanted. He went away; carrying with Him the blessings He had brought and meant to leave. So the sick remained unhealed, the lame still continued lame, demoniacs remained demon-possessed. We must be careful never to ask Christ to go away from us. We see Jesus sailing away from this coast, to come back again no more. May He not do the same if we ask Him to leave us?
Jesus knows where He wants His saved ones to witness for Him. This man wished to go with Him, but there was other work for Him to do. There are different ways of serving Christ. Some of His disciple He asks to leave home and friends to follow Him into distant lands. Others He wants to stay at home and bear witness among those who have know them to the grace and love of God. Each one of us may be sure that if we truly put our life into the hands of Christ, He will give us our work where it will do the greatest good. If He wants one young minister to go the foreign field as a missionary, he must go. But he must not blame his classmate who does no go to the foreign field, but enters the field at home. The home mission service is just as honorable as the foreign. The only question with anyone should be, “What does Christ want me to do; where does He want me to work for Him?” We serve Christ best when we serve in the place and in the manner in which He directs us.
Page 6