Faith - You Gotta Have It Sample

FAITH FOR THE PROMISE

Today’s reading takes us to fair Bethany, where a man has died. The dearly loved brother of Mary and Martha by the name of Lazarus. Lazarus was Jesus’ friend and he had, no doubt had many meals and pleasant conversations with him. But Lazarus became extremely ill and passed away. Jesus had not gone to him when he heard he was ill, a response that people did not understand. But Jesus knew something that everyone else did not... Jesus knew he would not remain dead. Jesus had made a promise: this sickness would not end in death.

At the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus has three faith responses. Three things that we can follow in the face of a challenging moment.

1. Jesus had an emotional response. Jesus was deeply moved and troubled. He wept. Why? Jesus knew what was going to happen, he knew the promise. Jesus is the resurrection and the life; he has certainty in the face of the uncertain. He knew Lazarus would be alive again in moments, and yet he wept. Christopher Smith says, ‘He wept because knowing the end of the story doesn’t mean you can’t cry at the sad parts.’ Having faith doesn’t mean an absence of pain. Jesus wept at the pain and sorrow caused by the enemy invasion that had devastated his beautiful creation. Christians are never admonished to accept death as a natural part of creation. Death and pain is never the ‘will of God.’ Jesus, deeply moved by the situation, knows the promise. No matter the pain we go through, the tough things we experience, we can have a faith in God that he is the resurrection and the life. Faith does not mean we do not see, feel, or experience the pain of our own and others’ circumstances. Faith means we always know how the story ends.

2. The man-made obstructions had to go. Jesus demanded that the stone to the entrance of the tomb be rolled aside. That stone can represent the things we put in the way of God’s miracles – they can be obstructions to our faith.

What stones are stopping the miracle reaching us? What obstacles need to be removed? We must roll the stone aside in our lives – silence the doubts, roll away negativity, blame, and anger.

3. Jesus spoke life... Have you tried learning a new language? It’s really hard! The only thing I liked about learning French was that our French teacher would buy us croissants! It takes concentration and energy to learn a new language. Speaking life is not our first language, but we can learn it. The name Lazarus means ‘God has helped’. Even before this miracle, people were declaring the miracle over his life. We too can choose to speak life in every situation, even the most impossible.

As you read this story today ask yourself: What emotions am I feeling about challenges I am facing? Write it down and tell God how you are feeling. What are some obstructions to my faith? How can I move them out of the way by speaking life today.