Day 16 - Love First: Dealing With the Damage

Love First: Dealing With the Damage

When he [Legion] saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you evil spirit!” Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
Mark 5:6-13

Just when you think this story can’t get worse than a damaged, demon-possessed man calling out to Jesus and begging him not to torture him, it takes a turn for the weird. The demon(s), recognizing Jesus, begged over and over not to be sent out into the area where they had been. They even went so far as to beg Jesus to cast them into a large herd of pigs nearby. Wait. What? And Jesus gave them permission! So as soon as the demons went into the pigs, they rushed down a steep bank and drowned themselves in the lake.

So what does this say to us when we are dealing with feelings of being damaged? Does it say to us that we are to find a herd of pigs and destroy ourselves? Absolutely not. The point to this has nothing to do with the demons nor the pigs. It has to do with the man. The man in the cemetery who has been crying and hurting himself. That’s where the focus is. And that’s where the change takes place. It is a change that gives us hope and comfort that we don’t have to stay damaged—or flawed, impaired, blemished, spoiled, crushed, fractured, fragmented, shattered, defective, or inadequate.

And what does this say to us when we come face to face with someone who thinks and feels that they are damaged? Choosing a Love First response means that we see beyond the surface. It says we take the time to establish a relationship that is faithful and caring and honest. The change we may need to make is an attitude adjustment first. Love First chooses to go beyond first impressions. Love First chooses to leave my comfort zone and open myself up to a different experience, a different kind of relationship. And maybe it’s one that I have to work on being comfortable with. But I do it—we do it—so that we represent Love First...the love of God...and love for others.

Your Mission
Either with your immediate family or a circle of close friends, ask each one individually how you can pray for them today. Pray about it right then.