So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." (John 11:3-4ESV)
Jesus’ answer here is similar to the one He gave in John 9 in that in both instances these situations were orchestrated to reveal the works of God.
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. (John 9:1-3,ESV)
Thinking of this man as a little boy and perhaps asking his mom why was he blind? What a perfect answer to give even a little one...even me, Father, when I wonder the same thing about my own circumstances and situations.
It is because God wants to work in and through even this. Jesus points them away from the why and on to the idea of what God can do in and through this. I liked what Spurgeon said about these verses:
“Whenever you see a man in sorrow and trouble, the way to look at it is, not to blame him and inquire how he came there, but to say, ‘Here is an opening for God’s almighty love. Here is an occasion for the display of the grace and goodness of the Lord.’” (Spurgeon)
Monday, May 20, 2019
Trusting in God Now and Forever....
Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you."
Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."
Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day."—John 11:21-24
I soooo get Martha here! She believed God for the future...she knew Jesus could raise Lazarus at the last day, (John :25-29) but had difficulty believing that she could trust Him to do the same in the present. I am the same way....I believe that God will raise the dead who believed on the last day...I believe that those of us who are alive and remain will not face death but be caught up with Him in the rapture. But I very often get anxious because I fail to believe that God can do the same in the present. I love how Jesus answers her.
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26 ESV)
Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. His power does not change. If we can trust Him for the future stuff, we can trust Him for the here and now. He is the Great I AM! The Becoming One...He becomes for us whatever our need might be. My belief is not an abstract concept. It is a personal trust in Him alone who can bring life to the dead. Praying this one gets engraved on my heart.
But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you."
Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."
Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day."—John 11:21-24
I soooo get Martha here! She believed God for the future...she knew Jesus could raise Lazarus at the last day, (John :25-29) but had difficulty believing that she could trust Him to do the same in the present. I am the same way....I believe that God will raise the dead who believed on the last day...I believe that those of us who are alive and remain will not face death but be caught up with Him in the rapture. But I very often get anxious because I fail to believe that God can do the same in the present. I love how Jesus answers her.
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26 ESV)
Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. His power does not change. If we can trust Him for the future stuff, we can trust Him for the here and now. He is the Great I AM! The Becoming One...He becomes for us whatever our need might be. My belief is not an abstract concept. It is a personal trust in Him alone who can bring life to the dead. Praying this one gets engraved on my heart.
Empty Hands...
The universe is our God’s dwelling place. The only thing we can give Him as finite human beings is the only thing that He desires from us. He wants us to take the cup of salvation He offers and obey Him as an expression of our love for Him. This is expressed beautifully in Psalm 116.
What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the LORD. --Psalm 116:12-13
What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the LORD. --Psalm 116:12-13
David and the King of Moab...
Then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, "Please let my father and mother come here with you, till I know what God will do for me."
4 So he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.—1 Samuel 22:3-4
I LOVED this! David feared for his parents’ safety during Saul’s campaign against him. But why did David bring his parents to the king of Moab for safekeeping? Moab was a traditional enemy of Israel. Jesse, David’s father was a descendant of Ruth the Moabitess. David must have had family ties or friends there through His great grandmother, Ruth. ❤️
Ruth 4:10,17
10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye [are] witnesses this day. 17 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he [is] the father of Jesse, the father of David.
4 So he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.—1 Samuel 22:3-4
I LOVED this! David feared for his parents’ safety during Saul’s campaign against him. But why did David bring his parents to the king of Moab for safekeeping? Moab was a traditional enemy of Israel. Jesse, David’s father was a descendant of Ruth the Moabitess. David must have had family ties or friends there through His great grandmother, Ruth. ❤️
Ruth 4:10,17
10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye [are] witnesses this day. 17 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he [is] the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Drawing Near to God...
But truly, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death."...As soon as the lad had gone, David arose from a place toward the south, fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down three times. And they kissed one another; and they wept together, but David more so.—1 Samuel 20:3;41
At this point David had to leave all behind him and live the life of a fugitive for many years. During this very difficult time David must have been very conscious of his own mortality. Saul and his armies were hunting him like an animal. David stood in jeopardy each passing hour...day and night his life hung in the balance.
At this point David had to leave all behind him and live the life of a fugitive for many years. During this very difficult time David must have been very conscious of his own mortality. Saul and his armies were hunting him like an animal. David stood in jeopardy each passing hour...day and night his life hung in the balance.
What was the result? David drew near to His God and learned to depend on Him. He began to understand with heart knowledge that his life was truly in His Father's hands. He began to comprehend that his sufficiency was not of himself but from His God. David lifted up His soul to Him who was able to save him not only from earthly death but from spiritual death as well. He put His trust in the One who was and is able to keep us from stumbling and present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy!
Lord...give me eyes and a heart to live depending on You...I want to hear Your still small voice saying, “this is the way, walk in it.” Keep me from going my own way...down my own paths. I want your song to drown the voices in my head that speak lies...that cause my heart to become fretful and anxious.
I want that inner calm that You promise to the one who is thankful...the one whose confidence in You does not waver. The one who trusts that You are able to do what is best for His beloved child. Give me time today to think on how I live, how I think and what I meditate on. I want Your perfect peace to rule my heart and mind, not the unmerciful and fearful voices of self and the world. Help me to dwell on Your word...to set my mind on things above...to focus on whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable...if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, set my mind on these things. Be louder than me, Father. Show me Your right way. In Your presence is fullness of joy and at Your right hand pleasures forevermore. You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.—Isaiah 26
Abide in My Word...
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."—John 8:31-32
In the context of this passage Jesus is speaking to the brand new believer instructing them to continue in their belief by abiding in His word.
Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (2 John 1:9, ESV)
Perseverance in obedience to Scripture is the fruit or evidence of genuine faith. A true believer holds fast, obeys, and practices Jesus’ teaching. To walk in the freedom and liberty of Christ is to walk habitually abiding in His word.
At the time of conversion we are set free from the law of sin and death. We walk in newness of life by His Spirit of Truth who dwells in us and directs our path as we surrender to His leading.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."—Romans 8:2;15
I asked myself what the reality of that spiritual principle looks like in my own life. How does abiding in the truth of God’s word set me free?
It sets me free from the tyranny of me...from my sin, my selfishness. It releases me from the lies that abound in this world and the deceit of my past. It enables me to escape from wrong thinking and the baggage of my past. The word helps me to do as it says in Hebrews 12:1—to lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares me and run with endurance the race that is set before me.
Psalm 119 begins with these words:
Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
Who walk in the law of the LORD!
There are countless ways that I can pervert my path during the course of even just one day. Abiding sets me back on right paths. It realigns my thinking...it “re-minds” me. Abiding is how my God ministers to my heart. It is where I meet Him and enter His Presence. It is where I find forgiveness, wisdom, comfort, grace and help. It is how I grow spiritually. It is how my countenance is lifted and the means by which I am transformed into His image. Abiding is where my fruit is found.
In the context of this passage Jesus is speaking to the brand new believer instructing them to continue in their belief by abiding in His word.
Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (2 John 1:9, ESV)
Perseverance in obedience to Scripture is the fruit or evidence of genuine faith. A true believer holds fast, obeys, and practices Jesus’ teaching. To walk in the freedom and liberty of Christ is to walk habitually abiding in His word.
At the time of conversion we are set free from the law of sin and death. We walk in newness of life by His Spirit of Truth who dwells in us and directs our path as we surrender to His leading.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."—Romans 8:2;15
I asked myself what the reality of that spiritual principle looks like in my own life. How does abiding in the truth of God’s word set me free?
It sets me free from the tyranny of me...from my sin, my selfishness. It releases me from the lies that abound in this world and the deceit of my past. It enables me to escape from wrong thinking and the baggage of my past. The word helps me to do as it says in Hebrews 12:1—to lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares me and run with endurance the race that is set before me.
Psalm 119 begins with these words:
Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
Who walk in the law of the LORD!
There are countless ways that I can pervert my path during the course of even just one day. Abiding sets me back on right paths. It realigns my thinking...it “re-minds” me. Abiding is how my God ministers to my heart. It is where I meet Him and enter His Presence. It is where I find forgiveness, wisdom, comfort, grace and help. It is how I grow spiritually. It is how my countenance is lifted and the means by which I am transformed into His image. Abiding is where my fruit is found.
Seeing as Man Sees...
And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. (1 Samuel 17:4, ESV)
Oh Father! This one is so important. I confess that I so often see my circumstances as man sees...my heart fails and my strength and faith with it. Like Saul and all of Israel, I become dismayed and greatly afraid. Like them, I focus on outward appearances (10:23-34;15:30) and am able to be influenced by the fear of man (12:12;15:24). On human terms, the “Goliaths” we face seem invincible. Oh help me, like David, to remember that You are with me. Help me to go out into this world like David did...in Your name and in Your strength desiring only Your glory. He ran toward Goliath unencumbered by fear and emboldened by faith. Thank you for Your Presence that goes with me.
Oh Father! This one is so important. I confess that I so often see my circumstances as man sees...my heart fails and my strength and faith with it. Like Saul and all of Israel, I become dismayed and greatly afraid. Like them, I focus on outward appearances (10:23-34;15:30) and am able to be influenced by the fear of man (12:12;15:24). On human terms, the “Goliaths” we face seem invincible. Oh help me, like David, to remember that You are with me. Help me to go out into this world like David did...in Your name and in Your strength desiring only Your glory. He ran toward Goliath unencumbered by fear and emboldened by faith. Thank you for Your Presence that goes with me.
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