Daily Devotionals

When Pigs Fly Week 6: Thursday

"No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you." So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:39

Who is the first person you call when you receive good news? I call my sister, whom I can always count on to celebrate exciting news with me. Maybe you call your spouse, close friend, sibling, or someone else. Regardless of whom you call, we all know that good news is too good to keep to ourselves. This is particularly true of the good news of salvation available through Jesus, which is the best news we will ever receive. This news of salvation in Jesus is too good to keep to ourselves. 

When Jesus healed a demon-possessed man in Luke 8, Jesus instructed this man to share his story with the people around him so that others could hear about His power. Luke 8 tells us the incredible story of how Jesus healed this man who had been possessed by many demons. After he cast the demons out of the man, the man's sanity returned, and he was found "sitting at Jesus' feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane" (verse 35). Changed forever by Jesus, this man wanted to follow Him when He left the region where the miracle occurred. In fact, Scripture tells us that he "begged to go with Him" (verse 38). Despite his pleading, Jesus told Him to go home, saying, "No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you" (verse 39). Jesus wanted this man to go and share about Him and His power in his hometown. 

As Christ followers, we, too, are called to share the good news of Jesus with the people around us. Before He left earth and returned to Heaven, Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 28, “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" (verse 19). As Christ's ambassadors on earth, we can tell others around us about Him. This responsibility means sharing about the difference Christ has made in our lives and pointing others to Him. Spreading the good news about Jesus is the greatest thing we can do with our lives. Will you answer Jesus’ call in Matthew 28? May we orient our lives around knowing Christ and making Him known to the people around us.

Moving toward action

One of the best ways to share the good news about Jesus is to share how He has changed our lives. We call this our two-minute story. Write down your two-minute story of your life before Christ, how Christ changed your life, and how your life has been since committing your life to Him and practice sharing it. As you go throughout your day, look for opportunities to share your story with the people around you.

Going Deeper

Matthew 28:1-20

"Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.

2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.

5 Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn't here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. 7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you."

8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel's message. 9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there."

11 As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. 12 A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. 13 They told the soldiers, "You must say, 'Jesus' disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.' 14 If the governor hears about it, we'll stand up for you so you won't get in trouble." 15 So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.

16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him-but some of them doubted!

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."