Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

Martha's theophostic conversation

Friday, April 8, 2011

John 11:21-27
Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you."

Jesus said to her, "Your brother Lazarus will rise."

Martha said to him, "I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day."

Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

She said to him, "Yes, Lord."

I am learning so much from you, Father. Jesus shows me how to look at you instead of my dead brother in his grave. Now he's asking me to stay right here right now, and let Lazarus live again in my sight and in my arms. Is that's what's he's saying, Father?

Listen to me, Martha. All the words you need are right here. Jesus' touch brings life. Everything he touches comes to life. How much do I love you, Martha? And how much do I love Lazarus? More than all your days can hold.

Do you really want to raise Lazarus' body up from the grave? He's even begun to smell. I could not bring myself to ask for this, but Jesus doesn't seem to need asking. What if he can't do what he says he can? What if nothing happens? Maybe I don't want to know.

Maybe you don't want to know? Maybe. Do you or don't you? What if ... Jesus and I don't do what you hope for? Our love for you is the foundation of your life. Of course you don't want that undermined. Can you live with this: that what you want matters a lot to us, AND that we will decide what happens? That we know exactly how to love? How to love you and Mary and Lazarus and all of you together, and Bethany, and Israel and all the world?

I see you in my mind's eye, Father. I see Jesus with my two eyes. I smell my brother's body. I know what I sense and see and taste and touch. You know more than I know. I believe you will use what you "know" and love me with it. So I wait for you.

But I'm drying up, Father. Thirsty and sad, and emptied out of tears.

Hungry I come to you, for I know you satisfy. I am empty but I know your love does not run dry. So I wait for you. So I wait for you. I'm falling on my knees, offering all of me. Jesus, you're all this heart is living for. Broken, I run to you, for your arms are open wide. I am weary, but I know your touch restores my life. So I wait for you. So I wait for you. *

* here's the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvnbfypZ4wY&feature=related

Devotions Archive

Martha's theophostic conversation

Friday, April 8, 2011