Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" John 11:43

Thought Of The Day...
Jesus and Lazarus were close friends. So Jesus was naturally concerned when he heard that Lazarus was sick, implying that he was near death. But as the Son of God, Jesus also knew that this sickness would "not end in death." Instead it would be "for God's glory so that God's Son [would] be glorified through it" (John 11:4). In this way Jesus predicted that Lazarus would arise.

Only God can raise the dead, and when Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb, it sent shock waves through the Jewish community. Here was proof that Jesus was no ordinary prophet but was in fact the Son of God!

Many people put their faith in Jesus when they saw Lazarus returned to life, but others took the side of Jesus' enemies. As a result, the religious leaders who despised Jesus became more intent on killing him. Before long, they "made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him" (John 12:10-11). All of this reminds us that the power of evil and unbelief can be so strong that even a miracle of resurrection will not turn some to repentance.

But the power of God is far stronger. After Jesus laid down his life to pay for our sin, he rose victorious over death and now leads people to believe through the power of the Holy Spirit, who lives in our hearts.

Prayer...
Father God, Thank you for the beautiful example of friendship that Jesus had with Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha. In John 11:43, we see the depth of their relationship as Jesus weeps for the loss of his dear friend Lazarus. We are grateful for their bond and the reminder that friendships are a blessing from you.

As we strive to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, guide us by your Spirit to become your friends and family members. Help us to see others with your eyes, to love them with your heart, and to be a source of encouragement, support, and comfort to those around us.

May we be a reflection of your love in the way we treat our friends and family. Help us to be patient, forgiving, and understanding, just as Jesus was with Lazarus and his sisters. Give us the strength to put others before ourselves and to show them your unconditional love.

Thank you, God, for the gift of friendship and the reminder that we are all part of your family. May we always strive to deepen our relationship with you and with those around us, just as Jesus did. We pray this in Jesus' name, amen.

Shine your light, and listen for the response. 🕊

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If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.
— John 11:48

Thought Of The Day...
Jesus’ popularity with the people had become a matter of great concern among the ruling Pharisees and priests in Jerusalem. Why? Because he had raised Lazarus from the dead! (See John 11:17-44.)

A number of Jerusalem residents had visited nearby Bethany to pay their respects after the funeral for Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary. Then they had watched as Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, walked out of his tomb alive when Jesus called his name. As they returned home, some of them shared this news with Jerusalem’s religious leaders.

And those leaders felt threatened, thinking that too many people had begun to believe in Jesus. So they called an urgent meeting. It wasn’t that they denied Jesus’ miracles; they just didn’t want to lose their influence with the local power base.

See, the priests were not only religious leaders but also allies of Herod’s dynasty, powered by the Roman Empire. They profited from the business of the temple complex. So they saw the popularity of Jesus as a threat to their political and economic power base. And they believed that holding on to that power was essential for the people’s survival. So, together with the Pharisees, they plotted to murder Jesus.

Prayer...
Heavenly Father, We come to you today with grateful hearts for the life you have given us. Your miraculous work in the story of John 11:48 reminds us of your power over death and your endless love for us.

But we also acknowledge that there are some who felt threatened by your presence and planned to harm you. They were blinded by fear and could not see the beauty of the life you offer. We pray for them, that their hearts may be opened to your truth and love.

Help us, Lord, to celebrate the life you offer us. May we never take for granted the sacrifice you made for our salvation. May we always remember that your love overcomes all fear and darkness.

Thank you for bringing life in place of death. Thank you for being our source of hope and strength. May we always hold on to your promise of eternal life with you.

Guide us, Jesus, in living a life that truly reflects your love. Help us to be instruments of your life-giving love to those around us. And may we always give thanks and praise to you, our Savior and Redeemer.

We pray all these in Jesus name, Amen.

Enjoy your Sunday Church Services and God Bless!

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“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
—Matthew 26:39

Thought Of The Day...
Jesus taught his disciples to say, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). In today’s verses Jesus models the process of seeking God’s will.

First, Jesus honestly tells his Father that he would like this trouble to pass by him. We should not be ashamed to express our wishes and desires to God. God wants us to know ourselves and to establish an honest conversation with him. But too often we stop there. Our prayers are often about what we want.

Jesus waits for confirmation of his request. Prayer is a dialogue. He makes this same request a second time and then a third time. He has confidence that his prayer fits the will of his Father. But eventually he becomes convinced that his will is not God’s will. So he submits to the result that the cup of suffering is God’s will for him.

Our prayer time with God often changes us and moves us in a new direction. We see possibilities that we were blind to before. We receive a deeper capacity to face challenges that seemed out of reach. Continued prayer assures us of God’s presence and affirms that our destiny is safe in his hands, whatever his will may be.

Sometimes the words “If it is God’s will” flow flippantly off our tongue. But praying that God’s will be done is no easy matter. Our best prayers must yield to God’s will, since that is the safest place to be.

Prayer...
Heavenly Father, we come before you today with open hearts and open minds, seeking your guidance and your will in our lives. Just as your Son Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, we too ask that your perfect will be accomplished in us. Help us to surrender our own desires and plans, and be open to your leading and direction.

In our prayers, we sometimes boldly ask for what we want, but we know that your ways are higher than ours, and your plans are perfect. So, in those times when our requests may not align with your will for us, give us the wisdom to trust in your greater purpose.

Teach us, Father, to wait for clarity and listen for your voice. May our prayers be a conversation with you, always seeking your guidance and direction. And may we have the courage to follow where you lead, even if it may not be where we originally wanted to go.

We are grateful for the example of Jesus in seeking your will, and we pray that we may follow his example in our own lives. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.