“Tell me what you know about Daniel and the lions,” Amelia prompted in her best Ms. Sheila voice as she held up Ezra’s story Bible for me to see. As soon as she joined Thomas for monthly Little Learners classes at the zoo, Amelia quickly adopted the teacher role when she is pretending. She was perched on a stool at the kitchen island furiously scribbling notes in a tiny notebook. When I paused from searching the refrigerator for toppings to add to my salad, she repeated her question. “What do you know about Daniel and the lions, Yolly?” Usually her questions come rapid fire without space for answering so expecting something further, I gave her the abbreviated version. “Daniel kept praying to God when the law said everyone must pray only to the king so they threw him in the lion’s den.” She continued to gaze thoughtfully at the page so I continued to the table with my lunch.
Amelia and Thomas know many of the Bible stories we read at bedtime because they are the eldest grandchildren. They have each had their turn and now they listen as I have the privilege of sharing them again with Ezra and Timothy. They often choose the baby Bible books to explore on their own. Thomas is beginning to recognize words but I believe they both know the text so well that they could read them from memory. They are indeed sponges, absorbing everything they see and hear daily. Nothing is more important than for them to be introduced early to God through His Word.
You won’t find every story in scripture in a child’s story Bible. Adam and Eve, Noah, Jonah, and Jesus get major coverage and I’m encouraged by the growing number of books that include Jesus’s parables and by how Biblical text is used without over embellishment. Some subject matter is just trickier to communicate to small children but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14) Allowing God’s Spirit to take the lead requires me to know God’s Word and to recognize and capitalize on teachable moments.
The story of the men of the tombs proves many things but one truth stands out. No one is too far gone for Jesus to save or to send out. Jesus didn’t just happen upon this region of the Gadarenes. His arrival was precisely when and where His Father preordained. The demons in possession of the men recognized Jesus immediately. They knew Him to be the Son of God and they understood their judgement was sure, else they would not have accused Him of intending to torment them before the appointed time. These spiritual forces of darkness do the bidding of the prince of powers of the air, father of lies, the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God and though their purpose remained unchanged, their hands were tied without express permission from Jesus.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;”
John 10:10 NET
https://bible.com/bible/107/jhn.10.10.NET
“Then the demons begged him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”
And he said, “Go!”
So they came out and went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep slope into the lake and drowned in the water.
The herdsmen ran off, went into the town, and told everything that had happened to the demon-possessed men.
Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus.
And when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.”
Matthew 8:31-34 NET
https://bible.com/bible/107/mat.8.31-34.NET
Read that again.
“Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus, but they begged him to go away and leave them alone.”
Matthew 8:34 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.8.34.NLT
Jesus, who gave His life as a ransom for many, said, “I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.
You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.
He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.
All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature.
By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.
(It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
God saved you by his grace when you believed.
And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
For we are God’s masterpiece.
He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
Ephesians 2:1-5, 8-10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.2.1-10.NLT
“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.
Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.”
Romans 5:6-9 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.5.7-9.NLT
Intelligent people went out of their way to dismiss Jesus. Demons immediately recognized and responded to the authority of Christ. They were not deterred from their twisted purposes but they had no choice but to bend to Jesus. The townspeople on the other hand were under so such obligation…yet.
“For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God.””
Romans 14:11 NET
https://bible.com/bible/107/rom.14.11.NET
We may live in an age that is increasingly hostile to the gospel of Jesus but we also have more access to the nations than any generation before us. Our adversary, the devil, is also the enemy of those whose minds he has blinded. Christians who face real persecution count themselves with the first followers of Christ as worthy to suffer with Him. We must learn to pray as Jesus prayed from the cross. Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. Those who refuse God now are walking blindly toward judgement, hellbent on destruction. We speed them on their way by responding in kind.
“In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets.”
Matthew 7:12 NET
https://bible.com/bible/107/mat.7.12.NET
“So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.”
1 Peter 4:19 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.4.19.NLT
“Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.
We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering.
And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering.
In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you.
And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven.
He will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus.
They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power.
When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe.
And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him.
So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call.
May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.
Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him.
This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.”
2 Thessalonians 1:3-12 NLT
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