Lent Devotional - Day 22
Read John 11:38-57.
As you observe Jesus, what we have to truly appreciate and understand is that his life here on the earth was meant to be an example for us to follow. Although fully God, Jesus lived and had his being as fully man and time and time again we see him doing things as the Holy Spirit leads him and on the Father’s timing.
Jesus does not live like the rest of us, exerting his own will and pursuing his own desires. He lives set apart. He has fully surrendered to the Father and does only as the Father leads. The miracles he performs is completely the result of his obedience to the Father and not because he is using his divine powers.
This then should be obvious to us: when we fully surrender our lives to Jesus and seek to do only as he leads, God can do miraculous things through us. When we can be trusted to steward his glory well, he will lend us his glory for his glory.
Jesus through his continued obedience now performs the greatest miracle by raising Lazarus from the dead after he has been dead for four days. As this joyous news and miracle is reported to the Pharisees, rather than their eyes being opened to Jesus, they double down and now really plan to arrest and kill Jesus.
My beloved, sometimes we can fall in love with the things of God rather God himself. We can end up worshipping and revering the things that ought to point to Jesus rather worshipping and revering Jesus himself. Be grateful for the gifts, but fall in the love with the giver of good gifts.
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Dear Jesus, thank you for all the blessings in our lives. Thank you for the many gifts including our church, the ability to serve, and the opportunities for worship. But may our eyes always be focused on you, and may our hearts beat only for you. Help us not to get caught up in the cultural things and the religious things of our Christian life, but help us to continually grow in love for you through our ever increasing obedience. Just as you completely obeyed the Father, may we fully obey you. Thank you for all that you suffered and endured on our behalf, may we all gladly deny ourselves, pick up our crosses and daily follow you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.