“Measure God’s love for you by how much of Himself He reveals to you.” – John Piper
When Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick John 11 says that He loved them and then He stayed where He was for two more days. He didn’t set out for Bethany until He knew that Lazarus was dead. This kind of love turns our definition upside down. It is a love that allowed His friend to die, and for His sisters to mourn for 4 days. They felt abandoned by Jesus and heartbroken over their brother’s death. Yet it was by putting them through this experience that he loved them. This doesn’t fit our understanding of love. But it was love because He was showing them what he was going to do in them at the final resurrection through raising Lazarus. It was for the glory of God so that the Son of God might be glorified through it. Their ultimate good and joy was only found through Lazarus’ death.
When we face obstacles that seem to oppose the work God has given us to do it is not as though those things will prevent the spread of the Gospel. In fact it is by these very things that God is revealing Himself to us. And it is in these very circumstances that the Gospel will go forth.
When the Holy Spirit leads us to view our circumstances in this way, our self-sufficiency is ripped out from under us and we are driven to prayer. It is in these moments when all we have is Christ, that God is most glorified in us. May we strive to live our lives dependent not on our own abilities but wholly dependent on God who loves us completely and always has His glory in mind which will bring about our ultimate joy as we see more of Him.
Sanders Party of Five 