We’re continuing in our devotionals on obedience today, but moving on from Joshua and the walls of Jericho to the account Lazarus. Let’s read the account. John 11:1-7, “Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sic, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love is sick.’ When he heard this, Jesus said, ‘This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.’ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go back to Judea.’”
There have been many times when I’ve questioned what is God doing here? or, what haven’t I learned from this experience yet?
When I read the account of Lazarus’ death, I always imagine Mary and Martha wondering why Jesus didn’t come to them right away. After all, they sent him the message, “Lord, the one YOU LOVE is sick” (John 11:3b). Our love for him isn’t much to mention, but his love for us, it’s extravagant! And I think they realized it, too. Just my thought.
We’ll see in a few verses, it took the disciples a bit to realize what was really happening. But Jesus was not going to let Lazarus remain dead, or asleep as he says. So why didn’t he stop it in the first place? Why didn’t he go while Lazarus was only sick and help him? Or, better yet, why didn’t just say the word and heal him when his sisters sent the message? This is good you guys!
Do you know how much God loves you? Really? I don’t think so. I almost can’t handle this. Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters, and he wanted to do something so “great and extraordinary for them” that he hadn’t done for anyone else! Even though it SEEMED like a delay, Jesus’ friends were in his thoughts. If he had went right away, it would have been ordinary. Lazarus wasn’t an ordinary friend. If he had said a healing word, it would have been redundant. His friends deserved more than leftovers.
Friend, when God is lingering and it feels like he is puttering around, just hang on. He’s working on something special for you, his beloved child of God! He loves you more than you will ever know. Stay faithful and strong, warrior!
If you are in a time of waiting now, give God thanks for what he is doing. If you aren’t right now, praise him for blessings today and pray for someone who you know is experience a tough time of in between. If they are ready to hear it, share with them how God loves them and is working on an extraordinary plan for them!
Our memory verse for the remainder of our devotionals in this series is Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
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