ISN’T IT CONFUSING that when you sin, you want God to be patient, but when you want something from him, you want him to hurry up?
JESUS TOOK his time when the mob who brought the woman caught in adultery waited for his response (John 8:1).
He took his time while his disciples travelled all night on the lake (Matthew 14:22-33).
He took his time when the servants waited for his directive at the marriage feast (John 2:1-8).
JESUS WAITED two more days after he received Mary and Martha’s message that Lazarus was sick (John 11:6).
He took his time because he knew how the story would end.
God knows how the story ends
TIME BECOMES irrelevant when you know how the story ends, and your desire to share comes to the fore.
He told his disciples: Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up. (John 11:11)
Lazarus is dead, and for your sake, I am glad I was not there so that you may believe. But let us go to him (John 11:14-15).
Jesus was mindful of them. Everything he did was to make them believe.
WHILE he was close to Bethany, Martha came to him.
My brother would not have died if you had been here. But I know God will give you whatever you ask (John 11:21).
She understood the power of presence and the depth of absence.
MARTHA ASKED for a miracle but couldn't schedule it.
You can schedule a prayer, but not a miracle.
SHE KNEW that Jesus loved Lazarus and based her request on it.
Romans 5:8 says, While we were sinners, Christ died for us. It isn't about what you've done but his love.
So, when you know God, you can confidently approach the throne of grace (Hebrews 4.16)
When you start this way, God’s goodness becomes the ground for your expectations.
And you can truly say the expectation of the righteous shall not be cut short (Proverbs 23:18).
You can schedule a prayer, but not a miracle
ONE THING she got wrong was telling Jesus how to do things.
You do not tell God to help you and tell him how to run things. God can only be your life's author when he is its driver.
WHEN SHE SAID, if Jesus had been here, she meant Jesus caused his death. She contradicted herself because she knew Jesus loved Lazarus.
So, God cannot want the best and the worst for you. The fact that God allows something to happen to you does not make him the cause.
JESUS told her that her brother would rise again. And she said: I know he will on the last day.
She had faith in the future but not the present. You can trust God for the future but must trust Him for the present.
Jesus told her that he was the resurrection and the life.
God takes his time because:
He is God.
He knows how the story ends.
There's a now you need to see.
He wants you to seek His face.
To be the Lord of your life.
He wants you to leave the heavy lifting to Him.
God wants you to trust Him.
Comments