Now You Will Really Believe

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

The Gospel of John 

August 20, 2024

Now You Will Really Believe

So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”

John  11: 14-15

God’s ways often conflict with our ways; God’s timing often conflicts with our timing. These are two of the most difficult aspects of the Christian life to reconcile. While we may not be so crass to say it out loud, too often our internal thoughts reveal our frustration because God does not do what we want done, when we want it done. I dare say that at least 90% of the frustration with our prayer life revolves around our efforts to get God to do what we want, when we want it. As John sets the stage for the greatest miracle of Jesus, the raising of Lazarus from the dead, Jesus is modeling for us how we can respond in faith to the uncertainties and demands of life.

The request for Jesus to go to Bethany created a conflict for Jesus. Bethany is near the Mount of Olives, just a few miles from Jerusalem. When Jesus left Jerusalem, the religious leaders were seeking to arrest him, and to stone him to death. For Jesus to return to the area of Jerusalem would have put him in harm’s way. While Jesus’ disciples feared for his safety, Jesus was calculating the time. Was it God’s time for him to return? Jesus resolved the conflict through prayer.

Jesus knew that no matter what happened to Lazarus, God would be glorified. Therefore, he did not let the circumstance determine his response. Jesus waited until the Spirit prompted him to return to Bethany.

Jesus did not react; he responded. That is what God wants us to do. God wants us to first think, then pray, and then obey the leading of the Spirit.

My Takeaway: Jesus responded to every circumstance in his life out of his understanding of God’s will for his life. This is a good time for me to reflect on my life and to consider how often I react to people and happenings, instead of responding out of God’s will for me.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.