When speaking of God's timing my friend would often say. "Four
days late and right on time!". This of course is true. God's ways and
timing are not ours - many times. It also refers to an event in the Bible from
John chapter eleven. This story sets the tone for what the world would
experience over the next ten days. With Palm Sunday coming next week I feel it
would be good to revisit one of the greatest miracles of Jesus' ministry - bringing
his friend back from the dead!
Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from
Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This
Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume
on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) So the sisters
sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end
in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified
through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed
where he was two more days. John
11:1-6
This is an incredible account in Jesus'
ministry. One of His closest friends is deathly ill and Jesus doesn't rush to
his bedside. Have you ever felt like this? You cry out to Jesus and then
you don't hear His voice or feel His presence? I'm sure we all have, but know
this - He does hear you. His way of dealing with your crisis might be totally
different than what you had in mind.
Trusting in God means that we will do it His
way and in His time (even when we don't understand or like it). Maybe
God seems to be running late these days... or maybe we should ask Him to
increase our faith.
Amen?
