*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*ASLEEP, NOT DEAD.*
*Scripture Treasure.*
John 11:11 *These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
What is dead to us is asleep to Jesus.
*Scripture Commentaries.*
Four significant things to remember in Lazarus' situation should be enough to teach us about the ways of God.
We will mention the first today.
First, Mary and Martha wanted Jesus to attend to the Lazarus' sickness but Jesus *".....abode two days still in the same place where he was.*, John 11:6.
After abiding two days, Christ went further to Judea, John 11:7.
After His long travel, He told His disciples that Lazarus sleeps and He was going to wake him up.
Was Jesus insensitive to the painful requests of Mary and Martha?
No. Paul says in Heb 4:15 that He has feelings for us when we are in pain.
Many times, God chooses our pains to fulfill a divine purpose.
When we do not go through pains or infirmities, both divine healing and the power of Christ to do anything without hindrance will have no meaning to us.
The pains we go through are an opportunity to seek God. It is an avenue by which we go to God for help.
We are often self-sufficient or have a sense of self sustainability. We often have a feeling that we do not need God when all is well with us.
One may deduce from the writing of Luke in Luke 8:43 about the woman with the issue of blood for twelve years *"......which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,..."* that when we exhaust all possible financials available to us for use yet without healing, we tend to turn to God.
In this world, unsolved challenges can be a motive for self termination.
As far as Mary and Martha were concerned, Lazarus' death appeared to be the end, but it was a sleeping state because Jesus is the resurrection and the life, John 11:25.
When Jesus told them Lazarus would rise again, Martha replied Jesus
*I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.* John 11:44.
Lazarus was not only plainly dead, he was stinking but certainly just asleep waiting to be raised.
Martha was no longer thinking about Lazarus ever coming back to life. She had lost all hope and was now looking forward to the resurrection morning.
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead as He said He would John 11:44.
The same thing will happen when the believer dies. He is said to be asleep to be raised on the resurrection morning, 1 Thess 4:15, I Cor 15.35-58.
In this life with Christ, nothing is impossible for those who believe.
What is that situation that is dead and makes you cry?
*Remorse corner.*
That situation that appears dead and is making you cry is not dead but sleeping!
*Call to Word action.*
Eccl 3: 4 *A time to weep, and a time to laugh...."*
It is in God's calendar. It must be fulfilled. Joy must come after weeping.
*The Christian clarion duty.*
God can not lie!
*Prayer.*
Lord, let all my dead opportunities receive the resurrection power in Jesus name.
Good morning all and have a blessed day.
God bless you.
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