September 8, 2024 Devo

September 8th, 2024

“It’s All About Jesus!”
The Story of Lazarus (John 11)
So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” – John 11:3 (NIV)
“Great Expectations”

Think honestly with me for a moment. When you pray, do you REALLY expect God to answer? Do you believe that He listens carefully to you and truly wants to give you what you ask for? Or do you go through the motions of praying with a “what can it hurt” kind of attitude? I don’t think it’s unbelief that we come to God with as we pray. I think it’s more likely an indifferent, unsure kind of hoping.
Contrast that attitude with Mary and Martha. It seems as if from the context of things, that they didn’t wait to contact Him. As soon as they realized the need was serious, they sent word for Jesus to come. Jesus was a First Response for them. Not a last resort.
There was no uncertainty with them about Jesus’ ability to heal. They had known Him for a while now and had most likely witnessed many of the healings that He was becoming famous for. What Jesus had done for others, they were certain He could do for their brother.
Look at the intimacy in their request. They weren’t appealing to Jesus to heal a stranger or someone unknown to Him. “Lord, the one you love is sick.” Read that again. “The one you love.” There was no doubt in their minds about how Jesus felt about Lazarus. They were confident in their request because they were secure in His Love.
Recognize, too, the magnitude of what they were asking. Jesus had just escaped from being arrested near where they lived, and they were asking Him to come back anyway. That’s a confidence in how important they believed their request was—both to them AND to Jesus. It would be risky, but they believed it was a risk Jesus would take.
How we approach Jesus in prayer is not just a direct reflection of how we think about Jesus, but also about how we think Jesus feels about US. Take a tip from Martha and Mary. Jesus is POWERFUL. Jesus is GOOD. Jesus CARES. And Jesus WILL COME. Don’t come in hesitation or half-hearted hope. Come BOLDLY to Jesus because YOU are also “the one that He loves.” That should give you Great Expectations! That’s God’s Word for you today.