JOHN 11:17-27 – Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
THEME OF THE DAY: DON’T FORGET TO APPLY IT. A father was telling his four year old son about the Lord Jesus’ death on the cross. He told him of His life on earth, His teaching, His love for people, and then His death, but the father stopped there. He didn’t go on to Christ’s resurrection. The little boy was thrilled over the stories his dad told of Jesus, but then, it ended. Jesus died. The son became sad, hung his head, and said, “Father, did Jesus really die?” “Yes, son, He did”, replied the father. Then these words out of the mouth of a babe, “That means He cannot love me anymore.” At that very moment, his father drove home “the rest of the story” and how Jesus rose from the dead. Without question the sadness of the boy went to extreme gladness as the God who is love is able to continue to love because He is alive forevermore.
Friend, do you, do I, at times, suffer “spiritual amnesia” by forgetting Christ’s resurrection? When we allow stressful circumstances, difficult trials, and seasons of suffering to rob us of the joy, peace, and hope found in the resurrected Christ, we have just diagnosed ourselves accurately with “spiritual amnesia.”
The greatest Christian ever to live, the Apostle Paul, was passionate about applying the resurrection of the Lord Jesus in his life. He proclaimed this as part of his personal testimony and life pursuit – that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death (Philippians 3:10). He would further encourage the Roman Christians how practical Christ’s resurrection is for all Christians – We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).
So, how do we apply our Lord’s resurrection in our daily Christian lives? Two applications. First, by faith, acknowledge He is alive, He is in You which means He is constantly with You. Such “God awareness” is only possible if He is alive. Believe it. It is true. Next, cultivate communion with Him through prayer throughout the day. Don’t forget to take Him into every circumstance, situation, and relationship. This act of faith infuses us with His resurrection power to live the Christian life as He desires and insures we don’t suffer from spiritual amnesia.
PRAYER: “Father, help me not to allow the truth of the resurrection of Your Son be only a truth I believe, and not live.”
QUOTE: “Truth known but not applied leads to an informed head, cold heart, and passive will.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim