-June 3, 2023-
Good morning, happy Saturday,
“Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, ‘Lord, behold he whom You love is sick.’ When He heard that, He said. ‘This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified.’ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus (John 11:3-5).
“Now when he had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth (John 11:43)!’”
Jesus loved His friends at Bethany: Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Lazarus was very sick, near death. Mary and Martha sent word of his sickness to Jesus the Great Physician. They had no doubt that He would come immediately and heal him; but God had another plan, a better plan. He waited four days before heading back to Bethany. By the time He and disciples arrived, it was too late, Lazarus had died and been in the tomb for four days. In reality the Lord is never too late.
Jesus had told the disciples, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God.” Healing Lazarus would have been a great miracle, but raising him from the dead was a much greater miracle. That is exactly what Jesus did, He followed the Father’s plan. He called Lazarus by name to come forth and he came out from the tomb to the astonishment of every one.
The next time we see Lazarus is John 12:2, which says, “There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one who sat at the table with Him.” I am sure He was so thankful that Jesus raised him from the dead. He enjoyed the fellowship with Jesus so much. He was privileged to sit at the table with his Lord, Savior, and Deliverer. As believers and friends of Jesus, we have the privilege of fellowshipping with the Lord daily, and one day to sit at the table in heaven with Him and all the saints at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Do you long to spend more time in fellowship with the Lord on this journey to heaven? We speak to Him in prayer and He speaks to us through the Word. The hymn writer, C. Austin Miles wrote, “I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses; and the voice I hear, falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses. And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own; and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.”
Let us fellowship with the Lord as Lazarus did. We can never have enough time with Him until we get to heaven. We must treasure and protect every moment. Have a blessed day with Jesus our Lord and Friend all the way to the end. Stay safe and healthy.
In blessed fellowship in His presence,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 