A Grave Buster

Posted on Oct 26, 2015 Topic : Weekly Devotionals

[Jesus said,] “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it” (John 11:4 NIV).

There are five words in there that not only tell us why Jesus waits, they tell us why he does everything. He says that Lazarus’s sickness “will not end in death” ( John 11:4 NIV).

Wait a minute, you may protest, it did end in death. No, Lazarus’s sickness led to death, but it did not end in death. It ended in the glory of God because Jesus planned to resurrect his adopted brother.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, your life is not going to end in death either. It will lead to death, but because you have eternal life, it ends in the glory of God.

Whatever Jesus is doing in your life, he’s doing it not primarily to satisfy you but to glorify God. The glory of God is the trump card in the deck of life—it will always trump our desires, wants, and preferences.

- 52 Weeks with Jesus

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Sometimes life is hard. We know God is always at work in us, but our circumstances often leave us scratching our heads. What is God up to with this awful situation? Why me, God? Not now, Lord… maybe later. Mary and Martha no doubt asked those questions when their brother, Lazarus, died. After all, death is the ultimate adverse circumstance… or is it? In the story of Lazarus, we find that even in death God has the final say. God’s glory will be revealed in the death of every believer in Christ. Until then, can we trust him with our present life? Can we allow him to glorify himself today… and tomorrow… and the next day—until our final day when we enter into the glory of heaven?