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Monday, January 30, 2012

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2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13
Psalm 3:2-7
Mark 5:1-20

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"i'll run you out of town"

Jesus "gave the word, and with it the unclean spirits came out." —Mark 5:13

Absalom ran his father, David, out of Jerusalem (2 Sm 15:14). Later, David's army defeated Absalom's troops and ran them out of Jerusalem.

Jesus ran a legion of demons out of Gerasene territory, but then the inhabitants of that land ran Jesus out of town (Mk 5:17).

The devil used the sin of Adam and Eve to drive them and all their descendants out of Paradise and thus become the prince of this world (see Jn 14:30). However, Jesus came "to destroy the devil's works" (1 Jn 3:8) and lead us to the perfect paradise of heaven.

The devil thought he had run Jesus out of town forever when he pulled off crucifying Him. Then Jesus rose from the dead, and the devil, the prince of death (Heb 2:14), was run out of town forever.

For those who have not yet totally given their lives to Jesus, life is being run out of town, paradise, and the promised land. For those who are living for Jesus, life is running the devil out of town. "Run so as to win!" (1 Cor 9:24)

Prayer:  Father, help me to resist the devil so that he will flee from me (Jas 4:7).

Promise:  "Perhaps the Lord will look upon my affliction and make it up to me with benefits for the curses he is uttering this day." —2 Sm 16:12

Praise:  Mark has learned to invoke the name of Jesus when feeling pressed by the enemy.

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 27, 2011

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