Friday, November 6, 2015

Tried, But Not Forsaken

King James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Friday, November 06, 2015
Chapters: John 11-12 http://imfollowingjesus.com/Bible-Reading-310.html
Message Title: Tried, But Not Forsaken

Hello My Friend,

As we approach the holiday season we see all kinds of things to catch the eyes of the little and big ones, many portray this as the time of year where miracles happen, people act a little nicer, give a little more, and may even try to get along with each other. What they seem to ignore is the fact that miracles happen every day, and it's not by chance, luck, or karma, it's by the mercies and grace of God. While we who know Christ believe and trust that He is the one any only living God without seeing Him face to face, the world does not see Him, that is why we who are the light must show the Light not only through this holiday season, but all year long because the seeing a saved soul whose life has changed under the Light is believing. “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” - Ephesians 5:8-10.

While we do believe in Christ and trust Him as our Saviour, God wants us to trust Him through every mountain, valley, and road of life we take. God challenges our belief quite often with sickness either upon ourselves or loved ones, we must understand that sickness does not come from God, it is the devil who afflicts us, God just allows him to. If we can believe in Him through the hard times, He will bless us greatly. Jesus was about to do something that He had not done before, something that we know will only happen when He returns. He decided to use the death of his friend Lazarus to show a miracle that only God/He can do. His sister Martha calls for Him to come and heal him, but Jesus waited until he was already dead and in the tomb before He came to them. First, He is approached by Martha. “Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” - John 11:21-27.

Believest thou this?” When we are in the midst of sorrows we can forget that Jesus, while He may seem distant knows all about us and is never too far. He uses the distance to increase our faith in Him, and also reminds us of His promise, that even if His decision is to take away the pain by taking them out of their body, they are still alive with Him. “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:9,10.

Did you ever tire of having to explain yourself over and over again? You wish everyone trusted your judgment and stopped asking so many questions. The truth is, people are so consumed with their needs or sorrows that they forget they already have the answers. When Jesus got close here comes Mary with the same statement as Martha. “Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” - John 11:32-40.

Jesus wept.” This verse often gets thrown out of context, they believe like the Jews did, that He was crying over the death of His friend. What brought tears to His eyes was their unbelief. They were fussing that He was not there to heal him. How many people get mad and curse God when someone dies? How many people walk away from God when they are hurt or things aren't going the way they like? We must remember that God's will in not always ours and we never know the hour in which we choose to walk in someone else's. Once again, God does not allow bad things to happen, it's the devil, but God will use every situation to prove that He is the miracle and can heal all who believe in Him, even through the most difficult times. “On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” - Job 23:9,10.

when he hath tried me,” Yes, God does try us sometimes, He isn't trying to tempt us to do something against His will, but He does try us to see if we will be faithful to Him. The news of Lazarus resurrecting from the dead had people talking, many believed and were saved, including some of the Pharisees, but those they hid their faith because they were out to kill Jesus and knew anyone siding with Him would be persecuted too.

Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus. The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle. But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” - John 12:9-11,17,18,37,42,43.

For they loved the praise of men” How sad is it that we, and we are all guilty of this, do things to get recognition from people rather than God. I read a quote, “My life may not be what I planned, but it's what God planned.” It got me thinking, God may have our characteristics down, and we can't choose which family we are born into, but we all have the free will to choose which plan we take. I believe (from the Word of God) that He calls certain people to do things from the time of conception, but we all have a choice in whether or not we follow the plan, and what we are currently doing may not be part of His plan. There are so many people that believe they are in some dark situation because it's God's will. Now, God will turn any situation around to be used in His plan, but we have the choice to be where we are, and if it is truly God's will you will see His hand directing it, not yours. “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:27,28.

Today's Prayer: God, I thank You for giving me life and the life You have given me, I may not understand some of the things I go through, but do understand that it's my choice in how I handle them and many times it's my plan that goes forward. I want to live my life in Your will, I want to glorify You in all that I do, and I do believe that You put people and things in my life to get me in You will, to try, and to get the glory for having been the one directing me. Lord, lead me and guide me, show me the path You want me on and how to walk it. Keep me looking straight toward You, and not question Your ways when they seem so strange to me. I see Your hand in my life, and know that You are working a great work in me as well as those who know me, let me not forget Your promises, and give me the patience and strength I need to see them unfold. I love You Lord, and ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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