Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
All Saint’s Day
John 11: 21-27V25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Do you believe?
Many of us have experienced moments of crisis in our lives, whether it be related to our health or the health of others as we see in the case of Martha and her brother Lazarus. In these situations where things seem to be going out of control, it usually is a time when we question everything and attempt to use our own logic to understand why things are happening. Like Martha states in verse 21, she reasoned that if Jesus had been there with them, her brother would not have died. Seems logical, however despite her grief, she remained steadfast in her faith in God and how He will give Jesus whatever he asks. How many of us can honestly say that we too have this faith amid despair or other challenges in our own lives? The one thing that Martha didn’t know, was Jesus’ timeline of when He would raise Lazarus up again to life. It could be similar for us that we try to create a timeline for when we believe that Jesus should do something in our lives and change our circumstances. Jesus asked Martha whether she believe in who He is and what He can do. As noted in verse 27, she replied that, “Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world” and later witness Jesus raise up her brother Lazarus from the dead! What would be our answer if Jesus asks us whether we believe? What do our words and actions say about our faith in times of crisis?
Many of us have experienced moments of crisis in our lives, whether it be related to our health or the health of others as we see in the case of Martha and her brother Lazarus. In these situations where things seem to be going out of control, it usually is a time when we question everything and attempt to use our own logic to understand why things are happening. Like Martha states in verse 21, she reasoned that if Jesus had been there with them, her brother would not have died. Seems logical, however despite her grief, she remained steadfast in her faith in God and how He will give Jesus whatever he asks. How many of us can honestly say that we too have this faith amid despair or other challenges in our own lives? The one thing that Martha didn’t know, was Jesus’ timeline of when He would raise Lazarus up again to life. It could be similar for us that we try to create a timeline for when we believe that Jesus should do something in our lives and change our circumstances. Jesus asked Martha whether she believe in who He is and what He can do. As noted in verse 27, she replied that, “Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world” and later witness Jesus raise up her brother Lazarus from the dead! What would be our answer if Jesus asks us whether we believe? What do our words and actions say about our faith in times of crisis?
Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to have the faith to believe in your plan and timing for us no matter what the circumstances.
Thought for the Day
‘Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.’
St. Augustine
Ashley George, Redeemer Mar Thoma Church, New Jersey