Tag: self help

Lazarus ” אלעזר” “God has helped”

Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John record many miracles that were performed by Jesus. These gospels have just a small fraction of what and who Jesus healed and touched before his earthly death.  Still today, we can hear, see, and feel Jesus’s hand in our miracles and the miracles of others.  Today, we get to read about life after death for Lazarus in John 11:1-45. One of his last earthly miracles that really sent the religious leaders into a panic demanding Jesus’s death.

But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” John 11:4 

Reading through this miracle of bringing someone back to life after four days is unbelievable.  It is only God possible. He had brought a couple of others back to life, but not after four days! This story also leaves me with some gut-check questions as I read through the scriptures.  Think about these questions with me.

  1. Who do you go to when you need extraordinary help? Do you rely on your personal strength or strength of man or? Do you rely upon  Jesus?              (Further Reading Psalm 3)
  2. How do we respond to adversity? Is it a grumble, complain, or blame? Or do we glorify His name in everything? ( But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

( 2 Corinthians  1:4 )  5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too

3. Are you walking in the dark or light? What do your choices look like? Are we trusting in His timing? 

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

4. Lazarus was dead to the physical world. The first word Lazarus heard was Jesus telling him to, “come forth”. When we physically die,  will the first person we hear be Jesus? Will you “come forth?”

Dear Heavenly Father thank you for the stories of your love, grace, and truth.  Help us to walk in the light, trust you in the face of adversity,   This heart-breaking story was all part of your plan. We love you and just ask for you to keep us in your light.  In your name, we pray. Amen

 

 

Sound Doctrine

Little child girl plays superhero. Child on the background of sunset sky. Girl power concept

2 Kings 16; Titus 2; Hosea 9; Psalms 126–128

There is no shortage of inspirational messages these days. They are readily found in books, speeches, podcasts, blogs, and videos. With the abundance of information available to us, it is critical that we know what we are filling our hearts and minds with. Today, in Titus 2:1, Paul is encouraging Titus to maintain “sound doctrine.” Rather than skip over those two words, I want to take a close look at them. In many ways, they can become a filter for us both in what we hear and in what we are teaching to others.

Let’s start by defining “sound.” Paul is talking doctrine that makes us well, in good heath, pure and uncorrupted.   I like the way John Calvin puts it. He says, “Sound, means wholesome, that which actually feeds souls.”  is the inspirational information that you are consuming feeding your soul?  Don’t forget, the doctrine with which we feed our souls can be evil too. So the question to ask is, “does this conversation also turn my heart toward Jesus.” When the answer is “yes,” we can move forward in confidence that we are engaging “sound doctrine.”

Anything that moves our soul is also going to move our mouths (Luke 6:45) and feet (James 2:14). Therefore, consider the resulting actions of our “sound doctrine.” The second question to ask is, “does it move me to action that exults Jesus?” if not, Jesus, then who? Again turning to Calvin, if it doesn’t promote Jesus, it “promotes ostentation.” Ouch!  You see, there are plenty messages that can stir my soul, but not all of them cause me to worship Jesus.

As you go about your day and your week, consider more closely what you are filling your heart and mind with. Make no mistake; they are changing your attitudes and actions. Are they moving you closer to Jesus?