In The House Of Misery God HelpsSample

Believe God For The Present, Not Just For The Future

Martha began her words to Jesus by looking at the past: “If you had been here …” And then she looked to the future, saying, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” But Jesus is suggesting that this future can be brought into the present. The kingdom of heaven can begin now. Jesus prayed, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Resurrection is not just a future event, Jesus tells Martha. It is found in a Person, and He is standing in front of you, inviting you to trust in Him

The first recorded words of Jesus after His return to Bethany were a tremendous promise. He said, "Your brother will rise again" (v. 23). But instead of taking this as a promise that Jesus was about to restore her brother to her, Martha pushed the words off into the future as though to say that they had no relationship either to herself or her situation.

In the same way, many of us also seek to limit Jesus. We believe that He is able to do all He says He will do—but not now and not here. At least we do not expect Him to and are genuinely surprised or disbelieving when He does.

This is also what many of us do with Christ's promises. We believe them, in a sense, that is, as they apply to others or to a far distant time. But we do not receive them personally. For us, the glorious promises of God become something like antiques in the attic. They have value, we suppose; but practically we get nothing out of them. 

As Spurgeon once wrote, they should have "grace to turn God's bullion ... into current coin."

When Jesus says Lazarus will rise, Martha thinks He is referring to the final resurrection. Martha knew her Old Testament pretty well. Psalm 16:9-10 states, “Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.” The traditional Jewish view was that there would be a general resurrection on the last day of judgment, and people would rise from their graves and would recognize one another. Martha believed God could handle raising Lazarus on the last day, but she couldn’t imagine God raising Lazarus after only four days! It sounds a little odd, but are we any different from Martha?

Quote: God never made a promise that was too good to be true. - D. L. Moody

Application question: What are some of the things that you believe God can do for you, but have not appropriated it today?

Prayer: Lord, I believe in Your promises. Help me to cash it in today instead of storing it for only tomorrow. Amen