It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you without a good WORD to step to, lol!
Hey Divas!
It has definitely been a while since my last blog. What can I say except "life happens."
But good things come to those who wait. Aren’t you glad you waited? J
What I am lead to write about today is how sometimes I or we can be very impatient but more importantly, I am praying for increase and growth in this area. You should be too!
Remember when Mary and Martha sent for Jesus because Lazareth was ill? The young women were under the impression that God had forsaken them because when they called he did not answer according to their time schedule. In fact, when Jesus received word, "he stayed two days longer in the place where he was."John 11:5
And for us ladies, we have a lot of nerve considering we are usually the ones running late, lol. It’s definitely something we need to work on.
I digress....
So according to their time schedule, Jesus was running off schedule. Mind you, he loved them all so very much as verse 5 tells us in John chapter 11. I guess you could say he had a special place for them in his heart but so does he for all his sheep of his pasture. Nevertheless, God has no favorites and he is not partial with whom he loves. Thank you Jesus!
They had to wait....
Wait on the Lord and he shall renew your strength!
Wait I say wait……
A scripture that comes to mind is "a day is like a thousand years to God and a thousand years as one day." 2 Peter 3:8
All I can say is that God got his children covered. This is some in advance stuff here. If a day is like a thousand years to God and many of us are blessed to live till we're past 70, then a thousand my God, that's 70 times 70 plus.
With God there are no delays in his departure for blessings to take off and be received. God is not slack concerning his promises. We think so because we think in terms of "me" instead of "we". They were sure to say, "Lord, he whom you love is ill," (John 11:3) but again God shows no partiality when it comes to his children.
Look at what Jesus said to Mary and Martha, "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 11:4
Sometimes, we don't want to hear the truth or may not be ready to receive it but if they had listened, they would have recognized that Jesus just answered their prayer. This was his "your help is on the way," message. He was sending words of comfort and since they “KNEW” who Jesus was, they had no reason to doubt but sometimes what we see gets in the way of the lenses of God—the word of God, ignores what was said but praise God it doesn’t erase what can be done! God’s word does not return void! It will accomplish what it was sent out to do!
Remember, Jesus told them, "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." Remember, when you focus on "me" and not "we" but especially focus on "He", you could miss out on your blessing.
If you keep your mind stayed on me, God said I will keep you in perfect peace! All sorts of things can be going on all at the same time but you can experience peace in the midst of commotion.
Think about Noah in the ark. That ark was like the hands of God cradling him and his family while the winds and rain beat up against it. All they did was coast until they reached their destination.
Of course Mary and Martha were not aware of this but while they were thinking about “me”, there was a “we” of disciples that Jesus says, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.” John 11:14
The beautiful thing about it is that not only was it for their benefit (Martha, Mary and Lazareth) but for the disciples as well. Talk about exceeding and abundantly…..Mary and Martha called on Jesus to heal their brother but in order for our faith to grow, it takes patience and it takes us to go deeper.
Jesus did not deny their request but wanted to show or reveal more of Himself. How fortunate and blessed we are that God desires to reveal Himself to us and he does so through his word—Jesus Christ! This happens over time and not over night. And again, it’s not just for you but in order for others to be blessed.
They desired the presence of a doctor but God showed up! Larareth was dead….I mean dead! He had been dead for four days in the tomb. The girls knew their brother was dead but when Martha met Jesus she said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would have not died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” John 11:21-22 Again, Jesus gives her comfort by telling her “Your brother will rise again,” in verse 23. She’s like yeah, I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.
Jesus, God in the flesh says, “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.”
He asks, “DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?”
She says, “YES LORD; I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, WHO IS COMING INTO THE WORLD.”
See, you can’t be like those that said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying.” John 11:37
See Jesus just told Martha that he was the resurrection and the life but what she heard had not caught up to her belief in what he said so God had to show her what he meant…..
She was still addressing him as Teacher…..
After he told them to roll away the tomb, they were fearful of the smell.
But Jesus said, “DID I NOT TELL YOU THAT IF YOU BELIEVED YOU WOULD SEE THE GLORY OF GOD?”
Again, Mary and Martha wanted a physician but they were in need of God.
The disciples were afraid of Jesus being stoned but he was trying to get them to think on things above.
Come to think of it, they all were all “wrapped up in worldly affairs” but were so close to God and had no clue.
When you are around Him but don’t know Him, that’s a problem but thank God He long-suffers with us. Paul urges us “to count the patience of our Lord as salvation,” 2 Peter 3:15. In other words, what may appear to be a delay should be reckoned as his patience leading people to Salvation.
You don’t know who in the crowd that may come to the Lord. It is not the will of God that any one of us should perish. He will go as far as dying on the cross at Calvary for our sins to save us.
Thank God for teaching us patience, for being patient with us and allowing us to see the blessing of being patient.
Jesus saw sheep. Jesus said previously in John 10:14, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
He said, “For this reason because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father,” John 10:17-18.
This is the side that Jesus wanted them to get to know. He wanted them to get familiarized with the One that said I and the Father are one.
He wants you to familiarize yourself with the One that when you call, you know He will answer. He knows about your situation before you pick up the phone and dial his number.
Trust in Him who is able to keep you from falling.
If you don’t believe in Him there is time to do so today. Don’t be a spectator because being a Christian is not a spectator’s sport. God is available and wants to participate in this faith walk. The first step in this faith walk is to trust in Him. Trust that Jesus came from heaven to earth and died on the cross for your sins. Make it personal. Your sins. Know that if Jesus was willing to die on the cross for your sins, He is willing to resurrect any dead situation in your life. Not only will He resurrect some things in your life but it will be a testimony for the spectators standing around simply watching to see what is going to happen in your life. The beauty of it all is that you have turned the wheel over—your will, to God and watch the miracle he performs in your life.
Come from out of the crowd and stop watching but get to know Jesus for yourself. Don’t refer to Him like those that don’t know Him but get to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
You may very well be in search of a doctor but God wants to be reconciled to you. You may be looking for love but God is love. You may be looking to be forgiven. God says that is he faithful and just to forgive if you confess your sins. He promises to cleanse you of unrighteousness. You may be looking for truth—Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. And if you are looking for heaven to be your home in eternity, then in order to get to the Father, you have to go through Jesus Christ. (John 14:6)
Yes, you may be like Mary and Martha that considered their brother dead and that he would be raised in the resurrection on the last day but the dead can be resurrected. We, who were dead in our trespasses and sins were resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit and you can be too.
Yes, it’s not recorded that Martha said this but I’m pretty sure Jesus showing up when he did and what may have appeared to be a delay, was well worth the wait!
Not only was her brother restored to her but her faith in Jesus Christ was strengthened.
I pray this too was worth the wait.
To God be the glory!
