(Translated version, original article written in Chinese by Pastor Mickey Hsiao)
Worship
By singing praises and hymns, awake your soul, open your heart to the Lord, and prepare yourself to welcome the presence of God and receive the Word of God that will be given to you.
Thanksgiving
Petition with thanksgiving to God for a wonderful day and pray sincerely for a focused Scripture reading time! (Do not rush into reading the Bible without starting with prayers!) (e.g., you may start with a simple prayer like this: “Dear Lord, what will you be speaking to me today?)
Scripture Reading
Get the following items ready in advance: your devotional notebook, paper, pen, and/or electronic devotional articles so that you can easily write down the Bible verses, questions, and thoughts you have noticed! You are encouraged to open your Bible and vocally read out the scriptures (Try to practice this reading method daily or once a week)!
Scripture Reading: Mark Ch. 5 (ESV)
Meditation
Take a moment to quietly reflect on today’s Scriptures. Through such exercises, let God’s Word be gradually written into our hearts and be inscribed to our mind.
Devotional
Read the devotional articles prepared by CBCLWA (*Read the Bible first before reading any devotional materials.)
(vv.1-20) Jesus and his disciples went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, to the region of the Gerasenes. From the scripture, this land belonged to the gentile because they raise pigs here. According to the Jews, pigs are uncleaned animals. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet Jesus. According to the scriptures, this man behavior was abnormal. He would even cut himself with stones. No one dared to be his friend. This man lived alone in the tombs and his heart was drowned by the evil spirit. It was a horrible and hopeless situation. However, when this man met Jesus, the legion of demons was chased away by Jesus, and sent to a large herd of pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
Then people saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed properly and in his right mind. He begged to go with Jesus into the boat, but Jesus told him to go home to his own people and told them how much the Lord has done for him, and how the Lord had mercy on him. That man obeyed Jesus and did what he was told. Therefore, in the land of the gentiles, people started to witness to others on the amazing things Jesus had done for them.
The life of this demon possessed man is actually a portrayal of our life. Prior to knowing Jesus, many of us were bounded by sins. This sins ruled over us and even destroyed our relationships with others. In the process we sabotaged ourselves, but by Jesus’ gracious salvation, we are restored to our best condition. There is hope in our live again. Let us proclaim the amazing thing Jesus has done for us. Let us witness to the world that Jesus has completely changed our lives. Let us share this amazing grace with our family, friends and loved ones and lead them to our savior, Lord Jesus. All the glory belongs to God our almighty Father!
(vv.21-43) Thereafter, Jesus changed two people’s lives. The first story was about a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. The second story was about Jairus’ daughter. Going back to the first story, the scripture said that, “And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood of twelve years, and how had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.” When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. Because of her faith, Jesus announced that her faith had healed her. She could go in peace and be freed from her suffering.
Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came and pleaded earnestly with Jesus to put his hands on his daughter, so that she will be healed and live. At the same moment when Jesus had just healed the women with the bleeding disease, someone ran up and said that Jairus’ daughter was already dead. Even so, Jesus still insisted to go over to Jairus’ home. Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. Jesus put the people all out and went in where the girl was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, rise!”). Immediately the girl resurrected from the dead in front of all these people!
To the woman with the incurable bleeding disease and the girl who was dead, their situations were hopeless. However, Jesus saved them and changed their lives. Brothers and Sisters, Jesus has also found us. Each of us can meet Jesus under a different circumstance. It is Jesus, who brings changes to our life. We were once dead, but now we are alive. Let us be good witnesses to the others on what the Lord had done to our lives. We should proclaim His salvation at all time!
In addition, have you noticed that when Jesus asked, “Who touched my garments?” The disciples said that “You see the crowd passing around you and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” When Jesus said to the crowd, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And yet, they laughed at Jesus? From reading the Bible, we understood that the disciples and the crowd did not really understand what Jesus was doing. It takes time and experience to fully understand the truth. On this note, please be reminded that if you are confused about your current situation or direction, or you do not understand what God want in your work, your marriage, or His plan in your life, please do not lose hope. We must have faith and be patient in our almighty God. He is working on us, and will definitely lead down the right path.
Pray
Give thanks to God for His enabling us to read the Scriptures and for our response for living out the Word of God today! (e.g., You may start with a simple prayer like this: “Dear Lord, what/where are you going to lead me to today?”)