The Resurrection and the Life

I had a restless night struggling spiritually with my faith. I had fixed my eyes back on a situation that looks very dead! Hopelessness became a running thought in my mind until I fell off to sleep but not a deep sleep. I woke up with only 5 hours (if that of sleep) and opened my computer and started reading John 11. I am glad because the Father had something He wanted to say to me.

“I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” John 11: 25-26

This was Jesus' response to Martha when he came to raise Lazarus from the dead.

Sometimes I think I need to be reminded of this scripture. I hear a lot of messages about Lazarus being dead and coming back to life. But rarely do you hear a message on this passage. This morning I needed this passage. I was looking a dead situation with no hope. I wish I was like Martha who responded with confidence as she recognized who Jesus was. I am more like Mary who questions Jesus with tears, anger, grief and sense of hopelessness. When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:32

But Jesus was not done and it didn't matter that Mary didn't understand that Jesus had come to raised what was dead to life. It wasn't Mary weeping at his feet that caused him to go and raise Lazarus. He went back to Judea to bring glory to the Father.

This morning I believe the Lord is saying to me...

Jackie, “I am the resurrection and the life .Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Jackie?”Today the Lord is asking me “Do you believe this Jackie? Do you believe that I am the resurrection and the life? Do you believe that all who believe in me will live even after dying? Do you believe that those who live in me will never die?”Do you believe, Jackie?” If you truly believe in me then have faith in me, have hope in me, and above all else trust in me.

Its so easy to believe it over my own life but when I look at the deadness the situation and hopelessness it's not always easy for me to remember that He is the resurrection and the life! He can call what is spiritually dead to life! No matter what I may see with my natural eye He sees differently.

Jackie

7/26/12