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JESUS LEAVE US ALONE

There is a pretty intense story that pops up in the book of Matthew chapter 8 in scripture. Jesus has just calmed the storm out in the middle of the sea and he has landed in the land of the Gadarenes. These two demon possessed guys show up and begin to scream at Jesus. They want Jesus to leave them alone. They are asking why he is bothering them. Now realize that it is the demons talking to Jesus not the actual men. These demons know who Jesus is and they know the power that is within him. I love that Jesus is just walking by and they are screaming at him for the mere fact that he is near. Finally the offer a plea bargin to Jesus. They say that if he is going to cast them out to do so into the herd of pigs off in the distance. I love what happens next…Jesus only says these words…“All right…GO!!!” At that the pigs plunged down the steep hill into the water below and they all drowned. Then it says, “The herdsmen fled to the nearby city, telling everyone what happened to the demon-possessed men.” Now for me the next verse sums up who you and I are some days with Jesus. In verse 34 it says, “The entire town came out to meet Jesus, but they begged him to go away and leave them ALONE!!!”
The past couple of months have been a bit intense for me. I have been wrestling with God in many areas. Areas like my ministry, my marriage, my kids, my personal development in him…etc. I have found that my attitude towards most things has been mediocre at best and at most times right down unhealthy. I have found that I, like the people in verse 34 have been asking Jesus to leave me alone. They wanted him to go away for the same reason the demons did. They were scared by his power. That he could change their lives. That would mean they would have to live differently. That would mean they would have to quit jobs or take jobs. That would mean they would have to change their family dynamic. That would mean they would have to get rid of some things or accept some new things. All these things, are at the core, really why I have been asking Jesus to leave me alone. I know the power of Jesus and sometimes I don’t want him to mess with me cause it means I have to change some things about who I am and where I am. It may mean a new ministry, a new job, a new way of taking care of my marriage or my kids. It may mean me dying to self all over again for the first time. I found myself for the past few months more often than not asking Jesus to simply LEAVE ME ALONE!!! How foolish of me. Jesus has been pursuing and I have finally thrown the white flag of submission in the air and asked him to finally take over.
The past couple weeks since the Great Submission have been great. I have a new hunger for the word. My wife and I are getting along really well and enjoying every moment we have together. My kids and I laugh more and enjoy each other more. I am burdened for people to know who Christ is again and my prayer today is that Jesus would never ever LEAVE ME ALONE!!! I pray today that you would long for the same. I am curious…have you ever asked Jesus to Leave You Alone? If so, when and why?