A Home Missionary

“He that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not…” —Mark 5:18-19

Here is a man of Gadara who was once tormented with demons, lived in the graveyard, and terrorized the countryside.  Jesus cast out the devils and brought peace to the man’s life.  In gratitude he prays to the Lord to let him follow Him. He wanted to be one of Christ’s disciples.  Yet, “Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee.”

Jesus wanted this man to be a “home missionary.”  God does not call everyone to leave all and follow Him to a distant land.  There are lost souls who need our a testimony among our own family, friends, and co-workers.

Christ called to Matthew, “Follow me,”  and Matthew “left all, rose up, and followed him.”  Matthew became one of Christ’s apostles.  But that is not what Christ demands of everyone.  Paul asks, “Are all apostles?”  (1 Cor. 12:29). The implied answer is “no.”

But, God does have a place of service for each of us.  If God doesn’t call you leave all and follow Him to a foreign land, you can do what this man of Gadara did.  “He departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel” (Mk. 5:20).

Will you be a testimony of God’s marvelous grace in your life to all those around you? Be a “home missionary.” A friend needs you to tell them.