🌿BREATHE TRUTH🌿
The two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling Him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick….”. So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, He stayed where He was for the next two days. —John 11:3,5-6
🌿LIVE THE REAL TRUTH🌿
When life happens, we want answers. Yes, no, why. But Jesus has a different vision of faith. Wait, wait, trust. Jesus has a close relationship with this trio of siblings, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. When the brother is sick close to death, they reach out to Jesus. Time is of the essence. If Jesus arrives immediately when Lazarus is ill, He can heal Lazarus. If Jesus arrives later, it will be too late. The margin between the time they wait for Jesus to receive the message and then to actually arrive is crucial.
But in the economy of Heaven, what really is the margin?
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The margin is where faith is tested.
The margin is where the exchange of our will and God’s will takes place.
The margin is where the wanting and the waiting is balanced on a scale.
The margin is where you die to self.
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The answers we want are the ones that fulfill the desires of the flesh. The answers Jesus give is to satisfy the soul. We think: Will I gain what I ask for? Jesus: You will lose to gain something greater.
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In their flesh, Martha and Mary hoped Jesus would come immediately to heal Lazarus. They knew Jesus had the ability to do so. But Jesus’ plans are not to gratify the flesh. His purpose is for our soul to see God’s power, in this case, resurrection power.
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)
Had Jesus arrive within Martha and Mary’s timeline request, He might heal Lazarus and everyone will see a miracle. The margin: our wanting and waiting on God.
But if Jesus arrives in His perfect timing, He can raise Lazarus from the dead and everyone will see a resurrection miracle. The margin: our wanting and waiting on God surrendered in a deeper level. Our timing can bring about results. God’s timing produces resurrection results.
In our waiting, we set aside our want for God’s will so we can experience God’s wonder.
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The cost. Martha and Mary undergo pain waiting for Jesus to come. They endure excruciating pain when Lazarus dies. They encounter extreme excruciating pain when Jesus arrives after Lazarus dies. The margin is where the cost is paid.
The commitment. Jesus doesn’t heed the message sent. Jesus doesn’t heal the man they love. Jesus doesn’t hand Martha and Mary happiness. Jesus doesn’t answer their prayers. But they still trust Him. The margin is where the commitment is poured.
The constant. In the middle of this tragedy and turmoil, Jesus reminds them He is the resurrection and the life. Whatever happens in our lives, Jesus doesn’t change. He is consistent and consummate. The margin is where we see His purpose remaining constant.
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Despite losing their brother and losing hope of a healing miracle, Martha and Mary’s faith isn’t in the work of Jesus, but the worship of God. They didn’t know that their brother Lazarus would be risen from death later. Yet Martha and Mary still trust Jesus in the margin. Real faith trusts in the Real Truth in the Real margin of life.
The margin is where the wanting and the waiting meet and merge, interact and intersect.
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Copyright 2019