Faithfully Yours Forever

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” John 11:40-43 (NIV)

Passage: John 11:38-44

Anyone need a witness?  The physical world surrounds us, but so does the spiritual world.  It is often difficult to believe that things in the physical world will ever change in miraculous ways.  We may find it easier to explain miraculous things away, or question if we had assessed the situation accurately in the first place, before we would believe.  Somehow it can even be easier to believe that some kind of miraculous spiritual breakthrough will occur before we will believe in a real physical change.  Jesus has shown us that both physical and spiritual miracles can occur in a moment.  May we believe that we may see, both physically and spiritually.  Lord God, I pray you will open our eyes so that we may see.  In Jesus’ name, I pray.

“See how he loved him!” John 11:36b (NIV)

Passage: John 11:28-37

In this passage of Scripture, Jesus wept with Mary about the death of her brother, Lazarus.  Because Jesus wept, many of the Jews looking on noted Jesus’ love for Lazarus, while other Jews wondered why Jesus had not chosen to miraculously save him.  I wonder what those Jews thought when Jesus, only a few moments later, raised Lazarus from the dead.  Actually, Scripture tells us.  Many chose to believe in Jesus, while others went to report the event to the religious leaders in the temple.  In John 11:48 we read of the religious leaders’ concerns.  They reportedly said, “If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”  Who would not want someone to believe in Jesus?  What would possess them to fear the Roman’s more than they feared God?

May we keep our eyes focused on the things from above.  May we be reminded that we, as Christians, are not of this world.  Let us not be conformed to the things of this world, but instead be transformed into the likeness of Jesus, the Christ.  Let us also remember, we have a heavenly home and a spiritual connection that transcends the limits of this physical world.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 (NIV)

Passage: John 11:17-27

Jesus said this to Martha, one of Lazarus’ sisters, just before He raised Lazarus from the dead.  What a miraculous event it must have been!  The crowd that had gathered to comfort Mary and Martha, after Lazarus’ death, must have been truly amazed!  As the anticipation of Easter or Resurrection Sunday builds, may we intimately sense the redemptive power of the work that Jesus did for us upon the cross.  May we have a deeper appreciation for what it means to lay down our life for the glory of God and to the benefit of others.  May we find the needed courage, faith, and desire to lay down our lives and really follow Jesus.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

“This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” John 11:4b (NIV)

Passage: John 10:40-42; 11:1-7

This is the second time, recently, that we have read about something miraculously being done for the glory of God.  The first time was when we read about the man born blind.  One of Jesus’ disciples had asked who had sinned to cause this man to be blind, the blind man or the blind man’s parents.  Jesus said neither.  Instead, we learned that this had been done for God to be glorified through the work of His Son.  In the passage above, we read of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha.  Lazarus died, but was raised to new life by Jesus.  The written of death of Lazarus and the blindness of the man born blind were both used by God to demonstrate His power to heal and raise people from the dead.  May we recognize the miracles performed by God in our everyday lives, as well as those we may experience through extraordinary events.  When we witness such miracles, may we remember to give all the praise and glory to God.  In addition, may we look for opportunities to proclaim God’s glory and to share the glorious hope we have found through Christ.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)