March 27
Scripture of the day: "Jesus said, 'Remove the stone.' Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, 'Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.' Jesus said to her, 'Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?' So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, 'Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.' When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come forth.'" John 11:39-43
Thought of the day: Put yourself in Martha's sandals for just a few minutes. You are standing at your brother's grave. It has been four days since He died. Imagine Jesus turning to you and saying in today's terms, "Dig him up ... open the coffin."
Challenge of the day: What would you do? Would you protest, "Lord, by this time he stinketh"? (that's John 11:39, KJV) Or would you obey in faith? Trusting Him, they removed the stone. Jesus cried out, "Lazarus come forth." Lazarus walked out of his tomb. Have you ever considered what Lazarus thought about this miracle? Did he really want to leave Paradise ... re-enter his aging body ... and shuffle, hobbled by grave clothes, out of the cave and back into his normal life? Do you think that he ever feared death again? Should you?
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