OBEDIENCE FIRST, MIRACLES SECOND
Jesus was still angry as He arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing Me.
John 11:38-41 (NLT)
Before Jesus had Lazarus, a dead man, walk out of the tomb. He asked those looking on to roll the stone away. Could you imagine the enormity of that task requested by Jesus? I remember walking through the cemetery as a young boy and being told I was not to walk over or onto any graves and gravestones. As much as our secular culture continues to degrade, I still feel there is respect for the dead.
The idea that Jesus wanted to roll a stone away would not only have been disrespectful, but the smell would have invaded the place. The amount of shame that would have been confronted at that moment would have been immense. But their trust in Jesus moved them to obedience, and then they got to experience a miracle.
Often, God works through our shame to help us get to a breakthrough. But we must trust Him with our shame and obey what He asks.
APPLICATION: Take a moment and imagine what you would have felt if Jesus had asked you to move the gravestone away. Remind yourself that God desires to work with us, not despite us, to move in this world. Give Him thanks for his partnership today.
PRAYER: God, help me have the courage to release my shame to You. I want to be obedient and faithful to You and not measure myself based on how others perceive me. Help me obey You fully and completely, even if confronted with shame. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?