“Lord . . . if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”- John 11:21-22
Mark Batterson states in Chapter 23 of The Grave Robber that many Christians only remember Christ’s resurrection at Easter. The other 364 days they live as if Jesus still is nailed to the cross.
If we feel as if our dream is dead and buried, we have forgotten about the resurrection. Yet God has us right where He wants us. Pastor Batterson notes that the litmus test of a dream is its death and resurrection:
“If it’s not from God, it’ll stay dead. If it is, it will rise again. But you need to pray through until you get a breakthrough.”
Mark emphasizes that while most miracles take longer than we want to wait for them, the longer we wait the greater our appreciation of those miracles: “Miracles happen when we’re good and ready, and not a moment sooner.”
Martha’s statement in John 11:21-22, Mark observes, reveals two types of faith:
1. Preventative faith– believes God can prevent adverse things from happening.
2. Resurrection faith– believes God actually can undo what’s been done. It puts commas, rather than periods, at the end of disappointments.
Jesus’ raising Lazarus from the dead demonstrates that when God takes something away from us, it doesn’t always mean permanently. God often takes things away with the specific purpose of giving them back. When He does, we see the miracle for the blessing it is.
Today’s question: What Bible verse enable you to remember the resurrection every day? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Six words”
