ERCC DEVOTIONAL (TEKAN) DAILY SPIRITUAL DIET; MONDAY 4TH DECEMBER, 2023.
TEXT: JOHN 11: 1 - 16
SPIRITUAL FOCUS: LAZARUS IS SLEEPING.
In yesterday's reading we heard that the Jews rejected Jesus but the author of the book of Hebrews called Jesus the Great Shepherd (Heb. 13: 20). The prophet Peter called Him the King of Shepherds (1 Peter 2: 25).
The reading today shows the kind of faith that Mary and Martha had. They sent a message to Jesus. "Your loved one is sick" (vs. 3). They did this because they knew that He had the power and the compassion.
Their intentions and their faith are that, if Jesus comes early. He can heal their brother Jesus was slow to come, because He knew the end of sickness was not death, but the glory of God and His Son (vs. 4) as it happened when the blind received their sight (John 9: 3).
Let us not forget, the Lord does not give glory to sin or sickness. But, in saving people and healing the sick Jesus is glorified. Brothers and sisters, it is good to imitate the faith of Mary and Martha, who drew close to Jesus.
Unfortunately, today many followers when they get into a little trouble they rush to witches, sorcerers and occult groups. This is wrong, because Jesus is always ready to help us. Some trials or temptations that we face are tests that God approves because He knows what kind of faith we have.
If these things happen to us, we should ask Jesus to increase our faith and trust in Him.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: For the true believer death is sleep.
PRAYER: Lord God, I beseech You, help me, give me the same faith of Mary and Martha in the name of Christ Jesus, Amen.
JOHN 11: 1 - 16 (NLT).
1 The Raising of Lazarus
A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha.
2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick.
3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”
4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.”
5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus,
6 he stayed where he was for the next two days.
7 Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”
8 But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”
9 Jesus replied, “There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world.
10 But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light.”
11 Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”
12 The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!”
13 They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.
14 So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.
15 And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”
16 Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, tooand die with Jesus.”
