1"Now a certain man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, "Lord, he [our brother and Your friend] whom You love is sick."
4 "When Jesus heard this, He said, "This sickness will not end in death; but [on the contrary it is] for the glory and honor of God, so that the Son of God may be glori-fied by it." 5 "Now Jesus loved and was concerned about Martha and her sister and Lazarus [and considered them dear friends]. 6 So [even] when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed in the same place two more days."
34 "...and Jesus said, "where have you laid him?" They said, Lord, come and see."
41 "So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised His eyes [toward heaven] and said, "Father, I thank You that You have always heard Me. 42 I knew that You always hear Me and listen to Me; but I have said this because of the people standing around, so that they may be-lieve that You have sent Me." 43 When He had said this, He shouted with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"
44 "Out came the man who had been dead, his hands and feet tightly wrapped in burial cloths (linen strips), and with a [burial] cloth wrapped around his face. Jesus said to them, "unwrap him and release him." Some of the bystanders were converted; some became angry."
As we come to Jesus in our great time of need we approach Him, not on the con-dition of merit nor public stature but on the basis of our relationship with Him, "...Your friend, whom You love...". But don't be deceived, the Lord hasn't pro-mised to come immediately when we call Him; because He loved, "...He stayed..." Yet as Omega, He speaks, "...this sickness shall not end in death."
When you pray, listen for His voice, wait expectantly for Him to show Himself strong on your behalf (2 Chronicles 16:9). Don't be dismayed if it's His deter-mined purpose to linger before embark-ing on His journey. There's always a di-vine destiny in His discomforting delay. "...for the glory and honor of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it."
Don't grieve when the situation appears dead; He's overcome the grave. Immed-iately obey His instructions; go to the tomb, roll away whatever obstructs resurrection. When He calls forth the matter, cut away everything that opposes life. Don't look at anyone but Christ; though some may rejoice in your victory, God's power will always bring controversy.
Join me next Friday for another Devotional In His Word
When you pray, listen for His voice, wait expectantly for Him to show Himself strong on your behalf (2 Chronicles 16:9). Don't be dismayed if it's His deter-mined purpose to linger before embark-ing on His journey. There's always a di-vine destiny in His discomforting delay. "...for the glory and honor of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it."
Don't grieve when the situation appears dead; He's overcome the grave. Immed-iately obey His instructions; go to the tomb, roll away whatever obstructs resurrection. When He calls forth the matter, cut away everything that opposes life. Don't look at anyone but Christ; though some may rejoice in your victory, God's power will always bring controversy.
Join me next Friday for another Devotional In His Word
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