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Being Told 'No'
Andrea Lende • Aug 29, 2020
Mark 5:19
He Would Not Permit Him
You can also listen to the meditation and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Being-Told-No-eirek5
Daily Word:
Mark 5:19
“But Jesus refused to permit him, but said to him, Go home to your own [family and relatives and friends] and bring back word to them of how much the Lord has done for you, and [how He has] had sympathy for you and mercy on you.”
Jesus had just commanded the demons to go out of the man at the tombs.
This man had been possessed by many demons and was tormented day and night.
Once he was at peace, the man wanted to join Jesus and His disciples.
He wanted to stay close to the One Who brought him that peace.
He wanted to stay close to His Savior.
I’m sure he felt the need to be close to Jesus in order to feel safe.
He probably also felt indebted to the Lord and wanted to serve Him.
But Jesus said, No.
Reading Jesus’ answer today brought up my own feelings of being denied and told no.
None of us likes being told no.
Our parents told us no.
Our bosses and supervisors told us no.
Our life partners tell us no.
I never like being told no – ever really.
It lands the wrong way for me every time.
I feel insignificant, inferior, denied my right, and just uneasy when I’m told no.
So, as I read that Jesus told this man who seemed to really need to be with Him, no, I felt his pain.
I felt badly for him.
I reread the verse a number of times to try and make sense of it.
The Bible doesn’t tell us exactly why the Lord wouldn’t let him go with Him.
It only tells us what Jesus wants him to do.
“Go home to your own [family and relatives and friends] and bring back word to them of how much the Lord has done for you, and [how He has] had sympathy for you and mercy on you.”
Jesus wants the man to impact his own family and friends.
His witness about being in his right mind would impact those who knew him not to be in his right mind.
As much as the man could have told strangers what happened to him, the Lord knew his testimony would be better served with those closest to him.
So, the Lord sent him away.
Sent him away from Himself.
Sent the man away to impact his own community.
The Lord knew what would be best for him and for his family and friends.
Similarly, the Lord knows what is best for us and our family and friends.
Today I choose to obey the Lord even when He tells me no because He knows what is best for me.
May you find that the Lord will direct your steps perfectly for you and your family and friends.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for leading and guiding me. Thank You for directing my steps and my way according to Your perfect plan. Help me hear You when You tell me no. Help me obey You when You tell me no. Keep me from being offended or hurt when You give me instructions that I do not particularly like. Keep me seeking Your will over mine. Help me be obedient to You in every way. Help me look to You and Your direction over every aspect of my life. Thank You, Lord, for showing me that You care for me perfectly. I pray You walk beside me this day and every day. Don’t leave me alone, Lord. I cannot survive a moment without You. Fill my heart with You as I sit with You for a few precious moments today. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM with you, My child, and will never leave you alone as I direct your path.
Response: Thank You, Almighty God and Father.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.