Mark 5:20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

This is in sharp contrast to what Jesus told various other people to do after He healed them, but there were two major differences in the circumstances. In the first place, the majority of people in the area weren’t Jewish, as should be obvious from the huge herd of pigs. In the second place, this man had been in a condition that he would have had no personal pride left. He was doubtless well known in the area as “that crazy guy,” and seeing him looking sane and normal had been a huge shock to the people who had first checked out the story of his deliverance. Because of that, his testimony must have been totally centered on Jesus. Verse 7 shows that he was fully aware of who Jesus was, and that knowledge stayed with him even after the demons left. He had far more awareness of spiritual realities than the vast majority of people who have ever lived! You could make a case for his being the first designated Evangelist. Spiritual gifting aside, he was absolutely convinced of the power and grace of God, and he was totally over being self-centered. That sounds like a good evangelist to me!

I have never felt I was gifted as an evangelist, but I still have the privilege of sharing the good news of God’s kingdom with all who will listen. Over the past 43 years I have had the privilege of baptizing around 50 people, but I certainly didn’t save any of them. For many of them, God used words He spoke through me to open their hearts to acknowledge Jesus as Lord, and for that I am deeply grateful. Some were convinced and convicted by other things before they ever got to me, and a few figured out how to say the right words without ever having a real change of heart. Those make me sad to remember. I’ve got to keep it in my heart and mind that I can’t save anyone, but God can and will use me to save people if I will keep myself available to Him. My story certainly isn’t as dramatic as this demoniac, but what matters is what God says and does.

Father, thank You for this reminder. In the week ahead I’ll be interacting with a lot of people. I pray that You would indeed use me to open their hearts and draw them to You, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!