“When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes masked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.”

Luke 8:34–37 ESV

Remember this crazy story in Luke 8?

Jesus casts out the demons who said, “My name is Legion for we are many.”

For years, the man they’d possessed was violent, naked, and unnaturally strong.

He terrorized that area like a feral animal.

After Jesus cast the demons out, the people found him “clothed and in his right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus.”

You’d think that guy would’ve had friends and family in that crowd… So naturally everyone would be all hugs and high-fives, right?

…but they’re not happy at all!

The passage says they were terrified and begged Jesus to leave them.

This is so weird until we see two deeper truths at work.

Do we really want Jesus’ freedom?

#1. When Jesus sets us free there may be a great cost to a life area that has a death drip on us.

In this case, Jesus cast the demons *out of the man* and into a herd of about 2,000 pigs. The pigs went mad, stormed off a steep cliff, and drowned themselves.

The spiritual renewal came at a cost to their finances.

What did the people want more? Freedom in Jesus or comfort in their idols?
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I’m asking myself that same question this morning. What do I value more, freedom in Jesus or my idols?

When Jesus shows up, get ready for your life to change!

Do we know Jesus’ power and his goodness?

#2. The people saw Jesus’ power, but not his goodness.

John Calvin wrote:

“We learn how wide is the difference between the knowledge of the goodness, and the knowledge of the power, of God. Power strikes men with terror, makes them fly from the presence of God . . . but goodness draws them gently, and makes them feel that nothing is more desirable than to be united to God.”

If we don’t see God’s goodness alongside his power, we miss the great adventure the begins in his presence.

It reminds me of Lucy and Susan’s conversation with Mr. Beaver about Aslan in “The Lion the Witch, and the Wardrobe”.

Susan asked, “Is he—quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”

“That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver. “If there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”

“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.

“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

Jesus isn't safe, but he's good.
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Let’s embrace his freedom at any cost. And let’s be drawn by his power and goodness.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

In the early 1800s, a young missionary named Adoniram Judson wrote a letter to his future father-in-law.

In it, he wrote asking for the hand of Ann Hasseltine:

I have now to ask, whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world; whether you can consent to her departure, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of missionary life; whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean, to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death. Can you consent to all this, for the sake of him who left his heavenly home, and died for your and for you; for the sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion, and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with the crown of righteousness, brightened with the acclamations of praise which shall resound to her Savior from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?

(Quoted in Courtney Anderson, To The Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson)

It’s difficult to imagine receiving a request like this for a daughter’s hand in marriage. But when laid against the backdrop of the Great Commission in today’s devotional verse, I realize exactly what Jesus’ command to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” might mean for any follower of Jesus.

Adoniram Judson did marry Ann. And they did spend their lives together in the mission field (primarily in Burma). However, Ann’s decision to marry Adoniram was not an easy one. But when she did decide to do so, she wrote this in a letter to a friend:

I feel willing, and expect, if nothing in providence prevents, to spend my days in this world in heathen lands. Yes, Lydia, I have about come to the determination to give up all my comforts and enjoyments here, sacrifice my affection to relatives and friends, and go where God, in his providence, shall see fit to place me.

The Judsons risked everything to obey Jesus’ command. But not simply because they were so good, but because they were so convinced of the “world of glory” awaiting those who belong to Jesus.

Adoniram’s letter, and Ann’s too, helps us see that the conviction to share the message of Jesus Christ flows from our great desire to be with him, and to have the whole world join us as well.

What is the great desire driving your life?

“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for his body, that is, the church.”
Colossians 1:24 CSB

Now, if you’ve wondered if Paul was saying Jesus didn’t do enough on the cross, take a breath with me. Because he actually means the opposite.

Let’s unpack the meaning together.

“What is Lacking in Christ’s Afflictions”: What Paul is Really Getting At

Paul’s not adding to Jesus’ sacrifice. Tat was perfect and complete, end of story. Instead, he’s talking about his own journey of suffering for the sake of the gospel and the church.

Let’s break it down:

1. Making It Real: Imagine Paul’s saying, “Hey, what’s missing is people seeing and feeling Christ’s suffering in the flesh.” By going through hardships for the gospel, Paul’s making Jesus’ sacrifice tangible. It’s like he’s bringing it from a sketch on a page to an amazing sculpture for people.
2. Becoming More Like Jesus: You know how we’re called to be like Christ? Well, Paul’s saying his suffering is part of that process. It’s shaping him to be more like Jesus. This is the process we call sanctification.
3. The Church’s Ongoing Story: Some folks think Paul’s talking about the big picture. How the church as a whole will face trials until Jesus comes back. Paul’s just playing his part in that larger story.
4. Missionary Life: Here’s a more recent take. . . Paul’s specifically talking about the unique sufferings that come with being a missionary. It’s not for the faint of heart. But that’s the point. Jesus didn’t promise discipleship was an easy road. (See John 16:33.)

So What’s the Big Idea?

When we look at the whole of Paul’s teachings and the context here, he’s probably saying something like this:

1. His sufferings in ministry are making Christ’s sacrifice real and visible to others. It’s not just ancient history—it’s alive and active.
2. By enduring hardships for the gospel, he’s taking part in Jesus’ sufferings. It’s simply what Paul called “discipleship.”
3. His afflictions are actually benefiting the church. How? By spreading the gospel and encouraging other believers.

Paul’s not trying to one-up Jesus here. He’s making Jesus’ work known and effective in people’s lives through his own sacrificial ministry.

What This Means for Us

Here’s where it gets real for us today.

This verse is a wake-up call about what it means to follow Jesus and spread His message. It’s not always going to be comfortable, friends. But here’s joyful news: our sufferings for Christ’s sake aren’t meaningless. They’re part of something bigger, something that benefits the whole church.

So next time life gets tough because of your faith, remember Paul’s words. You’re not just suffering. You’re participating in Christ’s work in a profound way. It’s a high calling, and yes, it’s costly. But it’s worth it to be counted worthy to suffer for Jesus’ sake. (See Acts 5:41.)

Let’s pray for the strength to embrace this calling, even when it hurts. Because in the end, it’s all about Jesus and His kingdom. And that’s worth everything.

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

Psalm 119:18 ESV

When you open up the Bible, what do you expect to find?

If you’re like David, you expect “wondrous things.” And he only had a small portion of the Bible God’s given us today!

The reality is this…

There is no wasted moment reading God's Word.
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Even if you only read a single verse, you are hearing from God himself. And you have the chance to “behold wondrous things” in his word.

From now on, never let a single day pass without reading at least one verse. You can do that, right?

Then read two… Three… Four… And before you know it, you’re reading entire chapters.

This tiny habit will snowball and change your life. Will you do this?

Pray for open eyes to behold wondrous things from God’s word — and commit to reading at least one verse every day for the rest of your life.

On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life. (Joshua 4:14 ESV)

Tens of thousands had just crossed crossed over the mighty Jordan river without floatation devices. They strolled across the miraculously dry river bed without a drop of water clinging to their feet.

Oh yeah, and the river just happened to be at flood stage. Which means that at some points, the river had swollen from 100 feet wide to 2,500 feet wide (source).

It’s incredible.

It’s also eerily reminiscent of another miraculous water crossing (Hint: It’s the Red Sea crossing in Exodus 14).

So not only was this crossing of the Jordan significant because God’s power was on display, it was also symbolic of his authority being conferred from Moses to Joshua as Israel’s leader.

Our text tells us that God “exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.”

As a leader, this was a good first day. But notice a few things here:

1. God exalted Joshua in front of the people. There was no hint of self-promotion here. No flicker of that desperate need for approval, acceptance, and adulation that plagues so many of us.
2. Effective—and God-honoring—leadership isn’t about being the smartest person in the room. Rather, it’s about being the person who gets with God. The person who says what God tells them to. Who leads people to where the Spirit is leading them.
3. Being the kind of leader that leads God’s people to great places is less about personal attributes than it does personal commitment. After all, Jesus modeled this perfectly by only doing and saying what the Father did and said.

Unfortunately, this is not how I’ve often approached it.

I always want to dazzle. I want to be the cleverest person in the room. I want to be eloquent, fresh, and profound.

My pride purrs like a kitten when I get to be the guy who tackles a text from a different angle than people have heard before.

In fact, there’s this satisfying moment I remember after preaching through the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. A New Testament professor came up to me afterwards and told me, “Wow. I’ve never heard this passage taught that way.”

I LOVED that… Too much, I’m afraid.

But when I take a step back and think about it, I’ve been the most effective when I’ve simply done and said what God’s told me to do and to say.

The crux of Biblical leadership seems to be this: We’re most effective when we do and say exactly what the Holy Spirit leads us to. Because ultimately, he’s always going to point people to Jesus and God’s glory, which is exactly who we all need.

We need Jesus. We need to submit to his Lordship. To follow him on the cruciform path. We were made to run after him with wild abandon.

We’ve come to the end of our series about the disciple’s race in the book of Hebrews.

So far, we’ve learned:

Compassion isn't simply a feeling of pity—it's the willingness to suffer with others!
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Hope in Jesus fosters endurance to resist sin, compromise, and fear.
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Hebrews 11 isn't simply the hall of faith—it's our family tree.
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The Holy Spirit leads us *out* of death and *into* freedom.
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Today, we’re going to look to Jesus in Hebrews 12:2. We’ll see that the disciple’s life is a race that costs us everything, that we may gain even more.

…looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

Some of you reading this devotion are tired. You’re frazzled and frayed.

You have a million responsibilities—maybe as parents, teachers, professionals, caring for sick loved ones, and the list goes on.

Add onto this the call to be disciples running a difficult race through enemy territory.

If this describes you, you’re in the same sandals as the original readers of Hebrews. They were ready to throw in the towel and trade their cleats for slippers. But in today’s verse, the writer of this letter helps us see the ultimate encouragement.

He tells us all: look to Jesus! He means fix your attention solely on Jesus.

For one minute get tunnel vision, forget the chaos of your life, and simply look to Jesus right now.

What did he do?

He *endured* the horror of Roman crucifixion.

Why did he do it?

“…for the joy that was set before him…”

Jesus looked right through the cross and pursued the joy before him. The joy David wrote about in a Psalm:

You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11 ESV

Because where does Jesus sit today?

At the right hand of the throne of God.

You see, life as a disciple of Jesus Christ is hard. This is a difficult race we run. However, we’re not running a hopeless, joyless, drudgery-laden race!

We are looking forward to everlasting joy in the very presence of God! Joy unending.

Eternal peace. An end to sorrow, suffering, and death itself.

And yes, we do have this awaiting us on the other side of the grave… But did you know it’s also available to us right now?

In John 15:11 Jesus told the Twelve: “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

What does it mean when something’s full? It means nothing can be added to it to make it complete.

In the person and presence of Jesus Christ we have complete joy. Joy that needs nothing else to make it better.

We need no spiritual weight, no sin that clings so closely…

…we simply need to “abide” in him. To live in and dwell with him.

If you trust Jesus as Master, Savior, and Lord, then trust that he was looking toward real joy. Joy that was worth enduring the cross for.

As Warren Wiersbe, said: “…in Jesus’ battle against sin, He shed His own blood.” [1]

• If you are a tired disciple, abide in Jesus and receive his joy.
• If you are on the brink of giving up, look to the author and perfecter of our faith.
• If you are enduring persecution, trust that Jesus, as the God-man, knew the true path to eternal joy… And follow him.

Fellow disciple, put on your tunnel vision glasses, and look to Jesus today as we run the disciple’s race side by side.

Footnotes:

[1] Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996. Print.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Revelation 1:17-18 ESV

King Jesus is alive and glowing with power, like the sun (Revelation 1:12-16).

He is sovereign, which means possessing supreme or ultimate power. He is worthy of our adoration, our worship, and our lives. But before all of these, he’s also worthy of our hearts.

Jesus is worthy of our worship and our lives—he’s also worthy of our hearts.
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Yesterday, we considered our response to King Jesus in light of the Apostle John’s reaction to him. He literally fell at Jesus’ feet “as though dead.” But what happened next?

King Jesus “laid his hand on me, saying, Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”

Jesus displayed his heart toward his worshipper. The King’s heart is for us. It is not hardened by power, but compassionate.

His work on the earth has brought salvation to us by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). And his reign extends that grace! He still reaches down to pull us up, still places his mighty hand upon our shoulders, in love.

We worship a mighty King—but more importantly a loving God.
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Be moved today to worship a God who loves you!

If God is everywhere all the time, why does today’s verse imply a timeline?

“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.”

Isaiah 55:6 (ESV)

Isaiah wrote these words about 200 years before the Babylonian Empire crumbled! At this point in the story, God is preparing His people to return home (which we see happen in Ezra and Nehemiah).

And while today’s verse may seem straightforward, there is a surprising twist.

Here’s the question:

Seek the Lord While He is Near
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When we think about seeking the Lord, we often think about the moments we feel emotionally closest to Him, like worship, in prayer, or while reading His Word. But Isaiah’s message is a call to seek God even when we don’t “feel” His presence. Even when our circumstances seem bleak.

Just as the Israelites were encouraged to seek the Lord amidst the chaos of a crumbling empire, we too are called to seek Him in the midst of our own struggles and uncertainties. With banks failing, economic uncertainty, and wars, we certainly face trying times.

Our Great Advantage to Seek the Lord While He is Near

Seeking the Lord means more than just calling out His name. It is an intentional pursuit of His presence. A burning desire to know Him — not just about Him. And a willingness to submit to His will.

Calling upon God also requires that we prepare our hearts. Because often, His guidance and direction contradict our own desires or expectations. But, it’s always better, higher, and more glorious!

The best part? Today, we have an unbelievable advantage. We live in the New Covenant. Jesus brings God’s presence nearer than most people in the Old Testament ever expected. We are filled with the very Spirit of God!

As Hebrews 4:16 reminds us:

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Reflect on this powerful message from Isaiah. Seek the Lord with intentionality and openness. Remember, God is near. We can approach His throne with boldness in Jesus. And He longs for us to seek Him in every season of life.

Ask yourself this simple question: In what area of my life do I need to seek the Lord while He is near, today?

And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Acts 2:12-13 ESV

People in the neighborhood heard two things:

1. A loud noise…
2. People fluently speaking languages they couldn’t possibly know…

Welcome to church!

The Holy Spirit had just fallen on the disciples who gathered to pray. They were waiting on God — and he showed up miraculously!

Let’s look at the responses from the crowd where we see two types of people emerge: curious and critical.

Curious About the Things of God

Whenever God moves there will be people who are curious. They will wonder, “What does this mean?”

The supernatural power of the Holy Spirit coupled with the unity and joy of believers will attract them.

You can trust the Holy Spirit is wooing these people and drawing them toward Jesus.

Our mission is to seek God, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and share the gospel with the curious.

Critical of the Things of God

Then we have the critical.

In Acts 2, they accused the believers of being drunk! They thought there is no way these people are doing anything worth our time.

They judged the believers harshly. They were the critics without curiosity, cold to the things of God.

Today, we call this Reddit… 🙂

Seek God

Disciples of Jesus won’t let the critics silence us.

We will keep testifying to what we know is true:

1. Jesus was who he said he was,
2. he died and rose again,
3. and the Holy Spirit will seal eternal life in us through believing in him.

Don’t worry about the critics, worry about seeking God. Focus on faithfulness. And then be ready to invite the curious into our faith family!

What if the disciples would have focused all of their attention on the critics that morning? What if they would have spent hours debating them and trying to prove their legitimacy, instead of sharing the gospel?

They would have missed the 3,000+ souls who were curious about God and ready to accept the gospel!

Don’t miss the people with soft hearts and open minds God has placed in your life to see the work he’s doing in and through you.

Are you more focused on the critics than seeking the curious?

P.S. Even the harshest critics can become the most passionate evangelists. Just think about Paul.

Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.

Romans 7:4 ESV

Is it hard for you to feel you’re good enough for God to love you?

Growing up, I was scared that I’d commit one too many sins. It was as if my eternal life danced on a cliff edge.

Scenes from past sin played on repeat in my mind. And so, I would try harder. I would wake up earlier to do my devotions, write longer prayer lists, swear off “sinful” behaviors, and more.

However, we find the key understanding young Jordan was missing in today’s verse.

The authentic Christian life is the fruit of grace, not our force of character.
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It’s a Marriage

In the verses prior, Paul used a marriage analogy to help the young church in Rome understand something similar. They were stuck on fulfilling the Old Testament laws as the path to salvation.

Paul explained that God’s people used to be married to the Law, but that husband is now dead! Instead, God’s people are married to Jesus Christ!

When he writes that we “belong to another” in today’s verse, that person is Jesus. And it’s his life that flows into us.

To avoid this seeming too “heady” let’s keep it in the marriage context.

Our eternal place in God's family is secure because of our relationship with Jesus as his bride.
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There’s nothing left to earn. Our old husband (the law) is dead. Our new husband (Jesus) is alive, all powerful, and ready to work his life in us.

Barren Trees

Trying to produce the fruit of the Christian life under our own strength is a dead end. It’s a fool’s errand. Because we are trying to find life in something that’s rotting in the grave.

We only produce fruit by Jesus’ life.

As he told his disciples in John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Understanding this decades ago would have removed some anxiety! But it also would have led me away from sin and toward my Savior.

God’s kindness, his grace, leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4).

Enjoy his kindness today and look to Jesus for hope, not your ability to keep laws.