Daily Devotionals

When Pigs Fly Week 6: Wednesday

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8

Those of us who place our faith in Jesus believe in His power. We believe in His power in the lives of people around us to work miracles and step into their difficult situations to provide peace. When it comes to our own lives, however, some of us doubt that He will step into our own lives and work. We think that although He works in others' lives, He will not work in our own lives. If this is you today, friend, take heart. You will be reminded in today's Scripture reading that Jesus willingly steps into your life and works because of His great love and compassion for you.

When Jesus encountered a demon-possessed man in Luke 8, the demons begged Jesus not to intervene. This man was in a desperate situation. Luke 8 tells us that he lived "in the tombs outside the town” (verse 27). Whenever this man was “placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness” (verse 29). He said to the demon-possessed man, "What is your name?” Possessed by the demons, he answered, “Legion’ for he was filled with many demons” (verse 30). This was not just one demon possessing the man. It was many. This man needed Jesus to intervene desperately. The demons wanted Jesus to leave them alone, but Jesus had other plans. He ordered the demons out of this man into a nearby herd of pigs, "and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned" (verse 33). Jesus stepped into this man's story and healed him of this demon possession.

Just like Jesus stepped into this man's story, He steps into yours and demonstrates His power. If you need evidence, look no further than His death on the cross "while we were still sinners" so that we could be rescued from sin (Romans 5:8). If Jesus willingly gave up His life and endured a painful death to rescue you, what wouldn't He do for you? He loves you desperately, friend. Will you trust Him to work in your life? It may not always be according to your plan, but you can trust Him because He is Good and does good.

Moving toward action

In what area of your life do you need God to work? Turn to Him today. Ask Him to work in that area and demonstrate His power according to His will. Then, look for ways He is working in your life. He may not always work how you expect Him to work, but He will work according to His will, and you can trust that His plan is good.

Going Deeper

Luke 8:31-39

"The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.

32 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs.

So Jesus gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned.

34 When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. 35 People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus' feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. 36 Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 37 And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them.

So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake. 38 The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, 39 "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."