Piece

Jesus crosses through chaos--a mighty storm. Jesus immediately encounters chaos--a man possessed by demons, by legion.

Freedom. Oh, what a small word for such a thing.

The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

Luke 8:38-39, ESV

The man begged. Pleaded. “Let me go with you. Let me follow you.” Was this not what Jesus was after? Yet, Jesus told the man to stay where he was. We must be willing for Jesus to place us. His where, when, and why, and not ours. We can sometimes have our ideas of how to follow--but to follow means he leads.

Perhaps this man, in his obedience, got a greater “piece” of Jesus than if he had been physically close. He wanted to be close--and oh! To have been physically near Jesus! Yet, yet perhaps he did get a greater closeness. He got to see Jesus working through him by the Spirit. He knew he was where he was supposed to be. He knew Jesus in a different way, but not a lesser way. Pause--and let that joy of having Jesus, of being in his place in his way in his time in his why be yours. Your time is not out of his hand. May the Spirit open your eyes to all the riches of Christ you have now, to the “piece” of Jesus that is yours in this time.