Thursday, July 9th, 2020

Our nation is in the midst of great upheaval and because it is an election year, it will likely only get more intense before it gets better. There is little any of us can do individually to change the course of history or steer the nation in the right direction, but none of us were designed to do either of those things. God is in control and we will see the glory of his creation when we believe this. Just before Jesus moved the stone away from Lazarus’ tomb, Martha (Lazarus’ sister) tried to stop Jesus from revealing the glory of God because she was nervous over what they would find. She said, “But, Lord, by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Jesus responded, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” In life, just like Martha, we are often frightened by what will happen when we just let go and believe in the power of God. We try to exert our control on things, screaming into the wind what we think and feel. Our focus is always better spent on belief than belligerence. Today, trust that the God who raised Lazarus from the dead after four days is the same God who can bring peace to our nation and our own lives.

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” – John 11:38-40 ESV