Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. (Mark 5:11-19)
In Mark 5:11-19, the Gadarene man who was previously possessed asked to follow Jesus, but Jesus instructed him to stay and tell everyone about the great things the Lord had done for him. What can we learn from this story? Gratitude opens the door for greater blessings in our lives. The delivered man recognized the goodness of God in his life and was grateful for his healing.
In our society today, it's easy to fall into the trap of ingratitude. We take things for granted and don’t appreciate the blessings we have. But as Christians, thanking God should be a habit in our everyday lives. It’s not just for the big things, like healing or financial miracles, but also the small things, like the air we breathe and the food we eat.
When we have a heart of gratitude, we are not only blessed ourselves, but we also become a blessing to others. Jesus instructed the man from Gadara to tell everyone about the great things the Lord had done for him. In the same way, when we are grateful for what God has done for us, we can share our testimony and inspire others to be thankful as well.
Practical Application
How can you thank God today and tell others of your gratitude? Look for opportunities to display your thanksgiving!