John 11:1, 5-6
"Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. . . Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was.
I read this passage today through an email and it brought out the bizarre truth of Jesus' action when he heard that Lazarus was sick. The NASB version records that 'He stayed away two days longer.' Jesus stayed away from Mary and Martha and Lazarus . . . longer?
If you hear that someone you love is in trouble, you get over to them fast. I know I would. Yet, three times in the surrounding verses we read how deeply Jesus loved these three friends. So why did He stay away?
From our perspective, the problems are growing, the prayers are rising, we fast and do whatever it takes and faith is arising, but then provision does not come the way we expected. We draw a dotted line from delay to deception and conclude that God doesn't love us and then spend many dark, we fall into disappointment with God's ways and how He seemed to not affirm our best efforts.
Here's an important truth gleaned from this situation: God doesn't love the way we love. What appears unloving may in fact be the greatest kindness of all. We expect God to work our solution on our timetable. Can you imagine the complexity of the tapestry God is weaving in the universe? We're over here in our limited little corner without a clue about what's going on in the bigger picture. Faith says that what God is doing is right-even when we don't understand.
I truely believe that someday we will understand God's will in our lives- even in the worst situations when He doesn't seem to rush towards our side to help us for the most valid reasons. But for now I have to believe in spite of what I see that He is after my good and His glory in every situation. I must trust that what appears unloving may in fact be His greatest kindness. Even if He decides to take a person home instead of healing the sickness.
In-spite of our reasoning of how God is to bless us for all the situations and circumstances that we are painfully going through we need to take hold of this fact with both hands: God is at work in your times of crisis. Whatever is challenging and stretching you right now in your family, your workplace, or in your personal walk with God-He is at work in that. He is building your faith in every circumstance. He knows all about that thing that is breaking your heart. Will you believe He is at work and admit His soverignity in your life?
blessings,
M.
O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness. (Isaiah 25:1)
19 July 2007
The Lord tarrys
John 11:1, 5-6
"Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. . . Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was.
I read this passage today through an email and it brought out the bizarre truth of Jesus' action when he heard that Lazarus was sick. The NASB version records that 'He stayed away two days longer.' Jesus stayed away from Mary and Martha and Lazarus . . . longer?
If you hear that someone you love is in trouble, you get over to them fast. I know I would. Yet, three times in the surrounding verses we read how deeply Jesus loved these three friends. So why did He stay away?
From our perspective, the problems are growing, the prayers are rising, we fast and do whatever it takes and faith is arising, but then provision does not come the way we expected. We draw a dotted line from delay to deception and conclude that God doesn't love us and then spend many dark, we fall into disappointment with God's ways and how He seemed to not affirm our best efforts.
Here's an important truth gleaned from this situation: God doesn't love the way we love. What appears unloving may in fact be the greatest kindness of all. We expect God to work our solution on our timetable. Can you imagine the complexity of the tapestry God is weaving in the universe? We're over here in our limited little corner without a clue about what's going on in the bigger picture. Faith says that what God is doing is right-even when we don't understand.
I truely believe that someday we will understand God's will in our lives- even in the worst situations when He doesn't seem to rush towards our side to help us for the most valid reasons. But for now I have to believe in spite of what I see that He is after my good and His glory in every situation. I must trust that what appears unloving may in fact be His greatest kindness. Even if He decides to take a person home instead of healing the sickness.
In-spite of our reasoning of how God is to bless us for all the situations and circumstances that we are painfully going through we need to take hold of this fact with both hands: God is at work in your times of crisis. Whatever is challenging and stretching you right now in your family, your workplace, or in your personal walk with God-He is at work in that. He is building your faith in every circumstance. He knows all about that thing that is breaking your heart. Will you believe He is at work and admit His soverignity in your life?
blessings,
M.
O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness. (Isaiah 25:1)
"Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. . . Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was.
I read this passage today through an email and it brought out the bizarre truth of Jesus' action when he heard that Lazarus was sick. The NASB version records that 'He stayed away two days longer.' Jesus stayed away from Mary and Martha and Lazarus . . . longer?
If you hear that someone you love is in trouble, you get over to them fast. I know I would. Yet, three times in the surrounding verses we read how deeply Jesus loved these three friends. So why did He stay away?
From our perspective, the problems are growing, the prayers are rising, we fast and do whatever it takes and faith is arising, but then provision does not come the way we expected. We draw a dotted line from delay to deception and conclude that God doesn't love us and then spend many dark, we fall into disappointment with God's ways and how He seemed to not affirm our best efforts.
Here's an important truth gleaned from this situation: God doesn't love the way we love. What appears unloving may in fact be the greatest kindness of all. We expect God to work our solution on our timetable. Can you imagine the complexity of the tapestry God is weaving in the universe? We're over here in our limited little corner without a clue about what's going on in the bigger picture. Faith says that what God is doing is right-even when we don't understand.
I truely believe that someday we will understand God's will in our lives- even in the worst situations when He doesn't seem to rush towards our side to help us for the most valid reasons. But for now I have to believe in spite of what I see that He is after my good and His glory in every situation. I must trust that what appears unloving may in fact be His greatest kindness. Even if He decides to take a person home instead of healing the sickness.
In-spite of our reasoning of how God is to bless us for all the situations and circumstances that we are painfully going through we need to take hold of this fact with both hands: God is at work in your times of crisis. Whatever is challenging and stretching you right now in your family, your workplace, or in your personal walk with God-He is at work in that. He is building your faith in every circumstance. He knows all about that thing that is breaking your heart. Will you believe He is at work and admit His soverignity in your life?
blessings,
M.
O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness. (Isaiah 25:1)
