Daily Bible Study

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Day 87 John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 4 When Jesus heard it, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus. 6 When He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. 7 Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 These things He said, and after that, He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” 12 Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless, let us go to him.” 16 Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” When you hear that a friend of yours is sick, you do what you can to get to them. If you cannot go to them, you send get-well cards and let them know you’re thinking about them. Jesus’ friend, Lazarus, was sick. His sisters sent for Him to let Him know about his illness. Yet Jesus did not go to him, but stayed where He was for two more days before telling His disciples they would go to Lazarus. His disciples tried to talk Him out of going because the Jews wanted to stone Him because He made Himself equal to God. However, Jesus told them He needed to go to wake Lazarus. Again, they tried to dissuade Him from going until Jesus told them Lazarus was dead, and He was glad He wasn’t there for their sakes. As Christians, you know the story of Lazarus and how Jesus raised him from death. Yet don’t miss what Jesus said. He said He was glad He wasn’t there for their sakes. Many times, you face desperate situations. You don’t know how it will turn out. You pray, and nothing happens. Jesus has not forgotten you. He did not forget Lazarus. He knew Lazarus died. Sometimes, you need to die before Jesus can work in you. You need to give up everything you thought you held dear, and let it go. When you do, Jesus is ready to do a mighty work in you. It makes Him glad to wait for you. Though you pray with tears and wonder why Jesus doesn’t answer your prayers. When you give everything in your life into His hands, then He can work to bring life to you. Dying to self is never easy. You want to hold onto everything that means something to you. However, when things mean more to you than your salvation, Jesus will wait until you are ready to give up everything. Only then can He work in you. Only then will He be glad because you are ready to accept His will for your life. What do you need to give up? Have you died to yourself so you can live? Make Jesus glad so He can work a mighty work in you. Let’s pray: Father, my life is nothing if You aren’t in it. Show me what I need to give up so that You can bring life to this mortal body. Help me die to self so that I will live. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 11 October 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.