......and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed,
sitting at the feet of
Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind:
Luke 8:35
"Look at this man, my soul,
and see whether you can find
any resemblance to yourself.
Before he heard the voice of Jesus, he was under the possession of the evil spirit. It is said of him that he wore no clothes. He dwelled in no house, but abode among the tombs. He was cutting himself with stones. No man could tame him, neither fetters nor chains bind him. Poor miserable creature!
--And yet, my soul, was not this a true picture of your state, and indeed, of
every man's state by nature?
--Had not Satan full possession of your heart and affections, my soul, before you became savingly acquainted with the Lord Jesus Christ?
--Did he not lead you in the pursuit and gratification of your lusts and pleasure at his will? You might truly be said to wear no clothes; for you were so far from having on the garment of Jesus' righteousness. In those days of your unregenerate life, you were living in the shame of your nakedness and in the filth of your nature. You did not dwell in the house of God, nor even delight to go in. And, just as this poor creature lived among the dead, so you lived dead in trespasses and sins.
Pause, my soul, over the portrait, and acknowledge how accurate and striking the similarity. Then ask yourself, are you now sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in your right mind?"
Robert Hawker from The Poor Man's Portions
and see whether you can find
any resemblance to yourself.
Before he heard the voice of Jesus, he was under the possession of the evil spirit. It is said of him that he wore no clothes. He dwelled in no house, but abode among the tombs. He was cutting himself with stones. No man could tame him, neither fetters nor chains bind him. Poor miserable creature!
--And yet, my soul, was not this a true picture of your state, and indeed, of
every man's state by nature? --Had not Satan full possession of your heart and affections, my soul, before you became savingly acquainted with the Lord Jesus Christ?
--Did he not lead you in the pursuit and gratification of your lusts and pleasure at his will? You might truly be said to wear no clothes; for you were so far from having on the garment of Jesus' righteousness. In those days of your unregenerate life, you were living in the shame of your nakedness and in the filth of your nature. You did not dwell in the house of God, nor even delight to go in. And, just as this poor creature lived among the dead, so you lived dead in trespasses and sins.
Pause, my soul, over the portrait, and acknowledge how accurate and striking the similarity. Then ask yourself, are you now sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in your right mind?"
Robert Hawker from The Poor Man's Portions
