By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

January, 02, 2009

SCRIPTURE:
^"Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region." (Mark 5:14-17, NIV)

Observations:
I asked myself what happened after the demons went into the pigs and the pigs rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned?

Today, I decided to look at the first four points!

Observation/Interpretation:
I asked myself why those tending the pigs ran off?
They wanted everyone in the town and the countryside to see what Jesus did to their herd. They were so concerned about what happened to their herd. This will be evident later.

I asked myself what is the cause-effect relationship here?
Because those tending the pigs ran off and reported what had happened, the effect was four fold:

1.   Bringing the people of the town to come and see Jesus!
2.   Bringing the people of the town to come see the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons sitting there, dressed, and in his right mind.
3.   The people of the region were afraid.
4.   The people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

I decided to focus on the first effect:

Bringing people of the town to come and see Jesus.

Interpretation:
I asked myself why it is so significant?
Jesus’ actions had ripple effects that went beyond the tombs and the area. His actions of healing the demon-possessed man and sending the demons into the pigs causing the pigs to drown sent those attending the pigs on a reporting mission. The result was people curious enough to come and see the outcome. Reporting of the incident spread throughout the town and the countryside bringing people to where Jesus was. The people who had witnessed the healing experienced life and death at the same time! They experienced the man given new life and the pigs with the demons die.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life. What I do that is witnessed by people will eventually be reported whether it is good or bad. Human tendency is to report things they see around them to others. It can be an awesome opportunity for witnessing when I point others to Jesus Christ by my living acts, making others want to come and have an encounter with Jesus. Also, any report could come of negatively on us even though what we do is right. That should not stop us.

I recall an incident where I wrote about the wrongness of homosexuality and how Christ’s love can cure it. It was reported all across the campus and I broke the record for the number of letters to the editor for my article. Anti-Ramesh columns in the school paper popped up too. That can happen when we take a stand but it should not stop us when we are proclaiming what is in the Word of God. We need to however do it with gentleness and meekness as that column was written.

The important thing to remember is when we say we are followers of Christ, we are held to a higher standard and people will report on us especially if we do things they perceive as wrong even though in the Lord's sight it is right. That should not stop us from Living the Truth and Proclaiming the Truth. We need to however be very careful not to do anything that will bring Jesus a bad name by our actions. We are Ambassadors for Christ representing the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and our actions need to represent that.

I ask you now dear friend, what will people report about you this New Year of 2009?
Dear friend, everyone is reported on whether they like it or not. The report is either positive or negative. Knowing everything is reported at one time or another, you can take the opportunity to become a witness for Jesus Christ. As you speak for Him, He will take care of the rest.

Billy Graham speaks eloquently about the saving power and Gospel of Jesus Christ. His preaching is reported throughout the world and people go to see him for the message of the Gospel he gives. In the process, thousands come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Personal Savior. You have an opportunity to be a witness where you are by your lifestyle! You can report on how Jesus has changed your life and what He means to you.

The other alternative is a negative one which we do not want to be part of. If our lifestyle is not in accordance with the Bible, the report people do about us will be detrimental not only for us but those around us. Remember every person offers report today! The question is whether you will let it be a good report or a bad report. Even if it is a bad report but what you have done honors and glorifies the Lord, you have done your part!

The Lord Jesus also has a report about you.

Will it be a good report or bad report before the Father?

Jesus knows whether you belong to Him or not. Jesus loves you so much that He died for your sin so you can be set free from its bondage. We all need a Savior to save us from the deadly virus known as sin. Jesus became that Savior for us when He went to the cross, shed His precious cleansing blood for our redemption providing an antidote. It did not stop there but Jesus came back to life to offer Salvation for you and me on the 3rd day. That is wonderful to know.

Now we need to accept the free gift of grace offered to us by Jesus so we can have a new beginning and new life. It can start right now when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Personal Savior surrendering our life over to Him letting Him know we are submitting to His Lordship.

Friend, no matter where you have been or what you have done, He will wipe your slate clean and give you a new beginning but you have to confess and repent of your sin realizing only Jesus' good report will give you entrance before the Father.

You will be transformed and changed by the power of the Holy Spirit as you yield to Him. He will make us  realize no matter how good we think we are, all our good works are filthy rags without Him, the hope of glory. With Christ in your life, you can make a difference and the good works will be the works He is working through you.

With Christ in you and you living out a life for Jesus, people will report about you and you will start drawing others to come to know Christ too because of your lifestyle and Christ's work in you. Praise the Lord!

May you allow the Lord to work in you so that what people report about you will be glorifying to the Kingdom of God!

“Remember Every Person Offers Report Today!” (R.E.P.O.R.T)/”What will people report about you this New Year of 2009?”

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, we know after you healed the demon-possessed man, the people who were tending their pigs went to report on what you did as they went to the towns and countryside. This made the people come see you but also the man you healed. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you for your awesome love and kindness. Help us be conscious of what we do and become a witness for you. Thank you so much Jesus. Help people see they are never out of your love and never out of your reach. Help us to make that clear to people. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you for dying for our sin and coming back to life to save us. Thank you for the power of your love. We are so sorry for our sin and when we give you a bad report by our actions. Cleanse us with your cleansing blood and we will be clean again. Wash us and we will be whiter than snow. Please come into our heart and make our heart your home. Thank you for the opportunities you provide for us. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you for being our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you that you have heard our prayer and answered us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much that we are never out of your love. No matter what is tormenting us, you are there for us. When there are days we cannot get through and loneliness has gotten the best of us because we are isolated in our torment and sin, you are still there. Just as the demon-possessed man saw you, ran to you, and fell before you for healing, we can come to you too. Thank you Jesus! You made yourself available to the man with the evil spirit. Thank you Jesus for making yourself available to us now when we call your Name for we are never out of your love and never out of your reach. You Oh Lord know what we have done; you know what we will do. You know what Satan will do to entice us and torment us. We come to you Lord and ask you for your healing presence in our lives. Take any addiction and torment that people face and fill them with your power to live for you. We know you can do it Jesus. Only you have the power to deliver us from any torment and find peace in you. Thank you so much Jesus. We come to you now Jesus and ask you to forgive us of all our sin. Deliver us Oh Lord and cleanse us with your cleansing blood. We believe in you Jesus; we believe you are the Son of God, we believe that you died and rose again; we believe you are here right now standing in our presence with the power to heal now and the grace to forgive. Help us Oh Lord as we turn this song “I Believe” into a prayer to you Oh Lord. Thank you so much for coming into our heart and making our heart your home as we ask you in. Take us in Oh Lord and be our Lord and Personal Savior as you lead us and guide us. Help us to help others as you help us! Thank you so much Jesus you are in our heart making our heart your home. Thank you for living in us. Thank you for being our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you Jesus you have heard our prayers and answered us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!