Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room
February 12, 2022
Read John 11:38-44
38 Jesus was deeply disturbed again when he came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone covered the entrance. 39 Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said, “Lord, the smell will be awful! He’s been dead four days.” 40 Jesus replied, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you will see God’s glory?” 41 So they removed the stone. Jesus looked up and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 I know you always hear me. I say this for the benefit of the crowd standing here so that they will believe that you sent me.” 43 Having said this, Jesus shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his feet bound and his hands tied, and his face covered with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.”
Good Morning! Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.
Jesus says, If we believe, we will see God’s glory. Why would we not believe? I think that it’s easy to want to believe and to even say we believe, but then our logical thinking gives way to doubt. Surely, raising someone from the dead is impossible. I know that after years of being a Pharisee and persecuting Christians, Saul/Paul will never change his ways. How can anyone walk on water? That just can’t be. After all, logic tells us these things can not be.
Well, okay, these kinds of things happened, but Jesus was right there for Lazarus and for Simon Peter, and even Paul was part of a direct encounter when Jesus was still fresh on the minds of those in that time. What about today? Surely, we can’t see miracles of epic magnitude today.
Think of all of the viral videos on social media. Now focus on the ones that are scams born out of someone’s use of editing photos or videos. We are so bombarded with media events, and maybe we are even tainted by these scams, that I wonder if we would believe if Jesus was standing among us right here, right now, in the flesh.
Are we believers or are we cynics? Do we believe that God’s glory is here among us? Through the baptism, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God made a new covenant with us that promises all who receive Christ as their Lord and Savior eternal life. Yes, hope for the future, but also for now.
We are not supposed to be just biding our time until we can join the fellowship of believers at the heavenly banquet table. No! We are called to prepare the way so that all can follow the light, the light shining within each of us who proclaim ourselves believers.
How do we prepare the way for ourselves and others? First, we love our God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. Next, we love our neighbors as ourselves. Amen! Mic drop! When we give ourselves fully to God, our doubts will abate and the Holy Spirit will lead us along our journey. Live life in God’s kingdom/kin-dom on earth and joyfully serve our master.
Loving God, Thank You for loving us. It is so easy to doubt the things we hear and see because there are those (led by evil) who work to scam us into false beliefs. Help us open ourselves fully to You, so that we may walk confidently as Your children. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: I trust that God can always bring new life.
Choose joy by living and loving in the kin-dom of God! Pastor Liz
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