Day 18 | Boundaries 2 (relationships)
Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
OBSERVATION
Our main verse is found in Hebrews 10, but before we get there, Luke 8:1-2 NLT sets the scene. Jesus is traveling to many different small villages spreading the good news of the kingdom of God. Verse one shares that his disciples traveled with him,”(v2) along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.” We don’t get a detailed report of how Mary Magdalene lived before her encounter with Jesus, we don’t know who her friends were, or how her days and conversations looked. We only know she was once possessed by seven demons, and then she had an encounter. I, similarly to Mary Magdalene, have felt oppression, and have lived in scary and angry places. I have never been demon possessed and do not pretend to know the depths of her sorrow; but I do know sorrow too, as I am sure you all do as well. Sorrow is a part of the human experience; however just like Mary, we are loved enough to have our own encounters. Before Jesus, the disciples, and the other women in Jesus’ circle, Mary did not have godly friends or support. She was destined to remain demon possessed until the end of her days. She was stuck in her sin. When she met Jesus and she was delivered from her possession, she gained more than deliverance that day. She gained community. She gained a group of like minded believers who were destined to be a support for her and her new faith. Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT says, “(24) Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. (25) And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Think about your own encounters with God. I encountered him many times at church camp in big and mighty ways; however, the true transformation came to me after church camp, when I surrounded myself with like minded believers who motivated me to continue to pursue God even when times were hard. The “church camp high” is great, but what comes after the encounter is so much more important.
APPLICATION
Mary Magdalene, me, you, we all have encountered God, but when we remain in the community of God, that’s when we can begin to step into our calling. In Mark 16:9-10 NLT, scripture says, “(9) After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons. (10) She went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what happened.” Mary Magdalene, the person who was demon possessed, a woman, stayed with like minded believers, and became the first person to share the Gospel, that Jesus Christ had risen from the grave. What a beautiful honor. Only possible because of the faith she had, paired with the love from her community who supported her when she needed it.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you so much for showing us first hand what Godly community looks like, and where it can take us. We pray for an encounter with you that is as life changing as Mary Magdalene’s, but mostly we pray for a community that will push us to our calling. We love you and cannot thank you enough for all you do. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.