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Saved to Serve
59
Though the Savior Himself departed, the men whom He had healed
remained as witnesses to His power. Those who had been mediums
of the prince of darkness became channels of light, messengers
of the Son of God. When Jesus later returned to Decapolis, the
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people flocked about Him, and for three days thousands from all the
surrounding country heard the message of salvation.
The two restored demoniacs were the first missionaries whom
Christ sent to teach the gospel in the region of Decapolis. These
men had listened to His words for a short time only. Not one sermon
from His lips had fallen upon their ears. They could not instruct the
people as the disciples who had been with Christ daily were able
to do. But they could tell what they knew—what they themselves
had seen, and heard, and felt of the Savior’s power. This is what
everyone can do whose heart has been touched by the grace of God.
This is the witness for which our Lord calls, and for want of which
the world is perishing.
The gospel is to be presented not as a lifeless theory but as
a living force to change the life. God would have His servants
bear testimony to the fact that through His grace all may possess
Christlikeness of character and rejoice in the assurance of His great
love. He would have us bear testimony to the fact that He cannot
be satisfied until all who will accept salvation are reclaimed and
reinstated in their holy privileges as His sons and daughters.
He freely accepts even those whose course has been most offen-
sive to Him. When they repent, He imparts to them His divine Spirit
and sends them forth into the camp of the disloyal to proclaim His
mercy. Souls who have been degraded into instruments of Satan are
still, through the power of Christ, transformed into messengers of
righteousness and are sent forth to tell how great things the Lord has
done for them and has had compassion on them.
Personal Experience and Witness Are Important
After the woman of Capernaum had been healed by the touch of
faith, Jesus desired her to acknowledge the blessing she had received.
The gifts that the gospel offers are not to be secured by stealth or
enjoyed in secret.