Jesus had cast seven demons out of Mary Magdalene. As we follow her through the gospels, we see that her thankful and joyful response to being set free was a life of faithful and devoted service to Jesus and His ministry. Her devotion to the Lord resulted in her being given a privilege which no other human being can ever claim. Her example should inspire us all.
Jesus' invitation to follow Him requires us to make a decision. That decision must be based on the knowledge that not all things are equally important, and that the invitation to be part of His kingdom family and serve Him is priceless. Too many people are just too busy with lesser things to accept Jesus' invitation.
Throughout the Bible, the conflict between good and evil is portrayed as one between light and darkness. The world lies under the power of dark, spiritual forces. Jesus came as the Light of the world to show people the truth and guide them home to their heavenly Father. Christians now have the privilege and responsibility of doing the same.
The gospel of Christ brings salvation to everyone who hears it, believes and obeys. But the gospel also provides two additional important blessings for the believer - sanctification and transformation. These are often not taught, but are very much a part of becoming a disciple of Jesus. Zaccheus' encounter with the Lord illustrates this for us.
In the parable of the sower, Jesus likened human hearts to different kinds of soil. As the seed was sown, it produced different responses in the various soils. Two main questions arise from this for each of us. First: What kind of soil am I? Second: Am I doing any sowing of my own?
