“Tell Them How Much the Lord Has Done For You”

Today’s Bible reading is 2 Chronicles 19 and Mark 5.

“What should I say? How should I start?” Those are common questions for disciples of Jesus.

“I’m a new Christian and I want to positively influence my friends and family, but I don’t know what to say.”

“It’s been a long time since I tried to share the gospel with anyone and I’m not sure where to begin.”

“I’m afraid if I bring Jesus up, someone will ask me a question I can’t answer.”

If you’ve ever felt those hesitancies before, Mark 5 is worth thinking about today. Mark 5:1-20 tells us of Jesus healing a severely demon-possessed man. Afterwards, “as Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, ‘Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you'” (Mark 5:18-19).

“Tell them how much the Lord has done for you…” Can you do that?

• “I was struggling to understand what life was all about, but Jesus…”
• “That addiction was slowly destroying my marriage, but Jesus…”
• “For a long time I was really struggling with selfishness, but Jesus…”
• “I never thought I’d be able to leave my past behind, but Jesus…”
• “I really worried about raising kids in this world, but Jesus…”

You might not be able to answer every question. You might have only taken a few steps as a disciple. You might not have tried to start a conversation about the Bible in a long time. Okay, but the next time that door of opportunity cracks right before your eyes, remember Mark 5. “Tell them how much the Lord has done for you.” That’s a great place to start.