What Are You Willing to Sacrifice for Me?

Mark 5:13-17 So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water. The herdsmen fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs. And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone. 

Ah, my children. These people had seen the man spend years possessed by the demons. They had seen the strength the demons had. The man, when under control of the demonic forces, was not able to be restrained even by heavy locks and chains – the demons would snap them easily. They had seen the demons torture this poor soul. He was not able to be with his family – he lived amongst the dead in a cemetery. So, when I commanded the demons leave this man and enter into the pigs, they should have celebrated. When they saw the man free and healthy once again, there should have been joy. But there was only fear and loss. Fear of my power over the demons that had held the entire town hostage for years. And fear based on their financial loss – the economic loss caused by the 2,000 now demon-possessed pigs that ran over the cliff into the water and drowned. Which fear was greater: the fear of my power over the demons, or the fear that I would cost them yet more money?  My children still suffer these fears. Many are afraid of me because I am God over all, Creator of all, the Alpha and the Omega. Many fear my power. Others are afraid to profess me, to demonstrate faith in me, to walk with me – because it could cost them their livelihood. They could get fired. They could lose business. They could lose friends and family.  Yes, truly living your faith in me can cost you. But, did my love for you not cost me? Did it not cost my safety, my family, my life? You know what I was willing to sacrifice for you. What are you willing to sacrifice for me?