Day 8
Luke 8
A Certain Women Minister to Jesus
Our passage today mentions a dedicated group of women that followed the ministry of the Lord Jesus. These women offered Him financial support and absolute devotion. In fact, one of these women, Mary Magdalene, seemed to have followed Him everywhere. She was with Him during His ministry. She also wept at His feet as He died at Calvary. She followed His body to the tomb and sat outside His tomb after He was buried. She was also among the first to return to the tomb following the Sabbath. And, she was the first one to whom He appeared when He arose from the dead.
     While others forsook the Lord, she remained faithful to Him! When others ran away, she stayed! What was it that produced this kind of devotion in Mary’s life? I think the Bible has the answer to that question! Today, I want to look at this woman’s life. I want to find out what happened to her to make her love Jesus so. I want to see if I can get a little of what she had! I believe there is a word from God here for every person in this room. Let’s look into the Word of God as we think about  her life has something to say to all of us about humble, consecrated devotion to God.
We are told that Mary was possess by seven devils. The number seven may refer to seven actual demons, or since the number seven was associated with “completion”, it may mean that she was totally possessed and under the control of the demonic spirits that inhabited her. Either way, Mary’s life would have been a living Hell! She would have been drawn into vile sin and she would have been driven insane by the demons that controlled her. It has even been suggested that Mary was a prostitute, though no biblical evidence exists to support that notion. What a horrible life!
In that lost state, controlled as she was by the demons within her, she had no hope of salvation. She would have been cut-off from the Temple. She would have been cut-off from all help from decent society. She had nothing to look forward to but a life of sin and insanity, followed by an eternity in Hell. She was living a hopeless life!
We are not told of the circumstances surrounding Mary’s conversion. Regardless, there was no reason whatsoever for Jesus to reach out to a woman like this. Surely there were reputable, decent women who needed the Lord. But, the fact that Jesus would reach into this woman’s darkness and bring her into His marvelous light can be attributed to nothing but His amazing grace! Jesus, however, was not content to let that happen and He extended love, mercy and grace to Mary and saved her soul.
When Jesus reached out to this woman and delivered her, she experienced the power of God. She instantly delivered from that which had her bound and when was set free! That is the power Jesus possesses! When He comes into a life, He makes instant and profound changes. 
Jesus took the pain and turmoil that plagued her away forever and quieted the storm within her heart!  He’s still doing just that! Oh how well I remember the confusion and disquiet that marked my own heart before I met Him. And, I remember the day that He stepped up on the bow of my life and quieted the storm in my heart. That is what He does for those who Come to Him be faith. To put it simply, He changes absolutely everything! Has He done that for you? Is there still confusion and doubt within you instead of peace and assurance? Are you following Him with all your heart? If you are, don’t give up! Get before Him and thank Him for what He’s done for you and seek Him for His help for the rest of the journey.

Faith Hopewell