In Pursuit of JesusSample

From Mess to Message

Darryl was a baseball legend who nearly destroyed his life with drugs. But Jesus set him free, and he’s been clean for years. Today he helps others struggling with addiction and points them to faith. Looking back, he affirms that God turned his mess into a message.

Nothing is too hard for God. When Jesus came ashore near a cemetery after a stormy night on the Sea of Galilee with His disciples, a man oppressed by darkness immediately approached Him. Jesus spoke to the demons inside him, drove them away, and set him free (Mark 5:1–13).

When Jesus left, the man begged to go along. But Jesus didn’t allow it, because He had work for him to do: “Go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you” (v. 19).

We never see the man again, but Scripture shows us something intriguing. The people of that region had fearfully pleaded with Jesus to leave (v. 17), but the next time He returned there, a large crowd gathered (8:1). Could the crowd have resulted from Jesus sending the man? Could it be that he, once dominated by darkness, became one of the first missionaries, effectively communicating Jesus’ power to save?

We’ll never know this side of heaven, but this much is clear. When God sets us free to serve Him, He can turn even a messy past into a message of hope and love. —James Banks

What has Jesus set you free from? How can you share what He has done with others today?

Beautiful Savior, I praise You for Your amazing power! No darkness can stand against You! Help me to walk in Your light today.