Our Worth in Christ 我们在基督里的价值
Dexu Xia
Jesus . . . said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you.” Mark 5:19
Today's Scripture Mark 5:1-6, 12-13, 18-20
Today's Insights The man with the “impure spirit” had terrorized the community (Mark 5:3-4), yet Christ redeemed him, showing him compassion while confronting his literal demons. Mark writes, “When [the man] saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him” (v. 6). Why would a man possessed by agents of Satan run to meet Christ, the enemy of Satan? Perhaps because even demons sense the irresistible compulsion to worship this “Son of the Most High God” (v. 7). Just as Jesus demonstrated to the demon-possessed man that his life had value, we can be assured that because of Christ we’re also of immeasurable worth
Today's Devotional Mario was a twenty-eight-year-old crack and alcohol addict who was imprisoned for burglary. At his sentencing the judge said he was “a waste of a human life.” Mario sadly agreed. Midway through his jail time he saw an advertisement for a journalism contest. It piqued Mario’s interest, and he enrolled in a nearby university. He was hooked. Mario loved working on news stories, and after his release he finished his master’s degree in journalism and now writes for The New York Times. He’s a waste no more!
The life of the demon-possessed man living in the tombs seemed a waste to anyone who knew him. His neighbors bound him with chains for their protection and his, but “he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet” (Mark 5:4). He ran back to the tombs where “night and day . . . he would cry out and cut himself with stones” (v. 5). Then he was changed forever.
Jesus cast out the man’s demons and returned him to normal society. The town was amazed to find him “sitting there, dressed and in his right mind” (v. 15). The grateful man wanted to sail away with Christ, but He said no. “Go home to your own people,” said Jesus, “and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you” (v. 19).
This man’s mission is our mission. Let’s tell others about Christ. In Him, no one’s life is a waste.
Reflect & Pray What has Jesus saved you from? Where would you be without Him?
Dear Father, thank You for the immeasurable worth I have in You. By Mike Wittmer
“耶稣……说：“你回家去，到你亲人那里去，告诉他们主为你做了何等大的事。”（马可福音 5:19）
今日经文：马可福音 5章1-6, 12-13, 18-20节
今日洞见：被“污鬼”附身的人曾使众人惊恐（马可福音 5:3-4），然而基督救赎了他，耶稣在赶逐他身上污鬼的同时，也向他显出怜悯。马可福音写道：“他远远地看见耶稣，就跑过去，跪在他面前。”（第6节）一个被撒但的邪灵附身的人，为何会奔向撒但的仇敌，基督呢？或许是因为连魔鬼都感受到那无法抗拒的冲动，就是要敬拜“至高神的儿子”（第7节）。正如耶稣向被鬼附身的人证明他的生命是有价值的，我们也可以确信，因着基督，我们也拥有无法估量的价值。
今日灵修：马里奥是一个28岁的瘾君子，他沉迷于可卡因和酒精，因入室盗窃被判入狱。在宣判时法官说他“浪费了一条生命”，马里奥悲哀地表示同意。服刑期间，他看到一则新闻比赛的广告。这引起了马里奥的兴趣，他报名参加了附近的一所大学。他从此迷上了新闻。马里奥热爱新闻报道，出狱后，他完成了新闻学硕士学位，现在为《纽约时报》撰稿。他不再是一条被浪费的生命了！
对于任何认识他的人来说，那个住在坟墓里被鬼附身的人的生命似乎就是被浪费的。他的邻居为了保护自己和他，用锁链把他捆了起来，但“他挣断了锁链，折断了脚上的镣铐”（马可福音 5:4）。他跑回坟墓那里，“昼夜喊叫，用石头砍自己”（第5节）。然后，耶稣赶出了那人的鬼，使他恢复了正常的生活，这使他的人生彻底改变了。全城的人都惊奇地发现他“坐在那里，穿着衣服，神志清醒”（第15节）。这位感恩的人想要跟随基督一起乘船远航，但耶稣说：“你回家去，到你亲人那里去，告诉他们主怎样怜悯你，为你做了何等大的事”（第19节）。
这个人的使命就是我们的使命。让我们把基督的事告诉别人。在祂里面，每个人的生命都不会白白浪费。
反思与祷告：耶稣救你脱离了什么？如果没有祂，你会在哪里？
亲爱的天父，感谢祢赐予我无比珍贵的恩典。——迈克·维特默