WEEKLY MESSAGE
SUN, 01/02/26 - SAT, 07/02/26
ON THE MESSAGE THIS WEEK: LEAVE ME ALONE
KEY VERSE: “THE CROWD BEGAN PLEADING WITH JESUS TO... LEAVE THEM ALONE” (MARK 5:17)
The Bible says when ‘those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs... the crowd began pleading with Jesus to... leave them alone’ (see vs 16-17). They had just witnessed an astounding miracle, yet here they were ‘pleading with Jesus to leave them alone’.
Maybe they were afraid He’d interfere with their livelihood, like He did with the owner of the pigs. Or they thought He was so powerful and unpredictable they didn’t want Him messing with their lives. Either way, they wanted no part of what Jesus had to offer. They altogether wanted Him to leave them alone.
‘Leave me alone, God!’ Maybe you haven’t used those exact words, but are there areas in your life you’d just as soon He didn’t get involved in? Pastor Mark Roberts says: ‘If we put into words our secret thoughts, mightn’t they sound something like this: “You can have me when it comes to my family life, but leave me alone at work.” Or, “You’re welcome to touch my public actions, but don’t mess with my daydreams.” Or, “I’m willing to give You a tithe of my income, but leave the rest of my money alone.” Or, “I’m happy to have You in my life, Jesus, but don’t ask me to forgive my parents.” Or, “I want You to be my Lord... but I want to hang on to certain areas of behaviour... to keep on sinning in certain ways and resist You when it comes to certain relationships.”’
God wants all, not just a part of you. He wants to be Lord of every aspect of your life - including those areas where you’d like to be left to your own devices. Inviting Him into those guarded places can feel risky but that’s often where His freedom does its deepest work. What we clutch for control is usually what binds us most. When we finally stop saying “leave me alone” and instead say “have it all,” we discover that His lordship isn’t loss at all; it’s life. He never forces His way in; He waits to be welcomed. Yet when we open every door, even the ones marked private, He brings healing instead of harm.
Surrender into God’s hands - it always leads to restoration, never regret.
Have a comforting week in Jesus' Name, Amen.
(Article/ extract from ucb,wordfortoday)
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Did you know: There are almost 20 different passages in the Bible where it is mentioned that we are God's people.
Ref: Jeremiah 32:38 / Ezekiel 14:11 / Zechariah 8:8 / 2 Corinthians 6:16 / Hebrews 8:10 / Ezekiel 11:20 / Ezekiel 37:23 / Jeremiah 7:23 / Jeremiah 31:33 / Ezekiel 37:27 / Jeremiah 31:1 / Revelation 21:3 / Exodus 6:7 / Leviticus 26:12 / Jeremiah 11:4 / Jeremiah 30:22 / Ezekiel 36:28.