Are you devaluing what GOD has done in your life? Do you walk in the Fear of THE LORD or have you become lukewarm and moved your focus to the temporary? What are your priorities today? What were they yesterday? (Don’t shoot the messenger.)
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 1:
21Throughout human history the fingerprints of God were upon them, yet they refused to honor Him as God or even be thankful for His kindness. Instead, they entertained corrupt and foolish thoughts about what God was like. This left them with nothing but misguided hearts, steeped in moral darkness.
How do you honor Him as GOD? You magnify HIM above all else, you glorify HIM! You exalt HIS Word above ALL ELSE and you are not reluctant to share HIS Truths with others. Who cares if you are attacked, belittled, or blown off? I don’t for I am laying up treasures in Heaven. I must ask myself each morning, “What should I do today on behalf of Jesus Christ and my calling?”
What are you magnifying in your life? Are you magnifying sickness or disease over the Healing power of GOD? Did Jesus ever succumb to sickness or disease in His earthly ministry? No, He showed the world the superiority of GOD over ALL sickness and disease. Death could not prevail either.
Are you constantly focused on the temporary at the expense of the permanent? Have you forgotten what FATHER has done in the past for you? He delivered me from certain death at least five times in the past. Who do you think I am going to align myself with?
“Pressure is a privilege.” Without any pressure, you really don’t know how mature you really are for your character is not being challenged. We are meant to confront challenges rather than run away from them. Jesus was confronted frequently and He did not cower down but instead glorified Our Heavenly Father.
The Beloved Disciple recorded in John chapter 11:
1-2 In the village of Bethany there was a man named Lazarus, and his sisters, Mary and Martha. Mary was the one who would anoint Jesus’ feet with costly perfume and dry his feet with her long hair. One day Lazarus became very sick to the point of death.
3 So his sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, our brother Lazarus, the one you Love, is very sick. Please come!” 4 When He heard this, he said, “This sickness will not end in death for Lazarus, but will bring glory and praise to God. This will reveal the greatness of the Son of God by what takes place.”
5 Now even though Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, He remained where He was for two more days. 7 Finally, on the third day, He said to His disciples, “Come. It’s time to go to Bethany.” 8 “But Teacher,” they said to Him, “do You really want to go back there? It was just a short time ago the people of Judea were going to stone You!”
Was Jesus reluctant to return to Bethany? Absolutely not! He knew that He was fully led by The Holy Spirit to bring glory and praise to GOD.
9 Jesus replied, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight in every day? You can go through a day without the fear of stumbling when you walk in the One who gives light to the world. But you will stumble when the light is not in you, for you’ll be walking in the dark.”
Jesus reveals a crucial Truth here when He said “You can go through a day without the fear of stumbling when you walk in the One who gives light to the world.” We need to keep this Truth at the forefront.
11 Then Jesus added, “Lazarus, our friend, has just fallen asleep. It’s time that I go and awaken him.” 12 When they heard this, the disciples replied, “Lord, if he has just fallen asleep, then he’ll get better.” 13 Jesus was speaking about Lazarus’ death, but the disciples presumed he was talking about natural sleep. 14 Then Jesus made it plain to them, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And for your sake, I’m glad I wasn’t there, because now you have another opportunity to see who I am so that you will learn to trust in Me. Come, let’s go and see him.”
We need to trust in Jesus and His Words to us. His Words glorify Our Heavenly Father without exception. We too are called to magnify Our Heavenly Father in our daily walk.
16 So Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, remarked to the other disciples, “Let’s go so that we can die with him.” 17 Now when they arrived at Bethany, which was only about two miles from Jerusalem, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
The Jews believed that by the fourth day, a man’s spirit had totally departed. Jesus dispelled that notion.
19 Many friends of Mary and Martha had come from the region to console them over the loss of their brother. 20 And when Martha heard that Jesus was approaching the village, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “My Lord, if only you had come sooner, my brother wouldn’t have died. 22 But I know that if you were to ask God for anything, He would do it for you.” 23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise and live.”
Martha was partially there in glorifying GOD. However, she was not convinced that the resurrection power could immediately return Lazarus to life. She deferred to the future but Jesus lives in the “now”.
24 She replied, “Yes, I know he will rise with everyone else on resurrection day.” 25 “Martha,” Jesus said, “You don’t have to wait until then. I am the Resurrection, and I am Life Eternal. Anyone who clings to me in faith, even though he dies, will live forever. 26 And the one who lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 Then Martha replied, “Yes, Lord, I do! I’ve always believed that you are the Anointed One, the Son of God Who has come into the world for us!”
34 Jesus said to them, “Where did you bury him?” “Lord, come with us and we’ll show you,” they replied. 35 Then tears streamed down Jesus’ face. 36 Seeing Jesus weep caused many of the mourners to say, “Look how much He loved Lazarus.” 37 Yet others said, “Isn’t this the One who opens blind eyes? Why didn’t He do something to keep Lazarus from dying?” 38 Then Jesus, with intense emotions, came to the tomb— a cave with a stone placed over its entrance. 39 Jesus told them, “Roll away the stone.” Then Martha said, “But Lord, it’s been four days since he died—by now his body is already decomposing!” 40 Jesus looked at her and said, “Didn’t I tell you that if you will believe in Me, you will see God unveil HIS power?”
Jesus continues to show the people FATHER’S Glory. He did not allow death to devalue FATHER’S Glory.
41 So they rolled away the heavy stone. Jesus gazed into Heaven and said, “Father, thank You that You have heard My prayer, 42 for You listen to every word I speak. Now, so that these who stand here with Me will believe that You have sent Me to the earth as Your messenger, I will use the power You have given Me.” 43 Then with a loud voice Jesus shouted with authority: “Lazarus! Come out of the tomb!” 44 Then in front of everyone, Lazarus, who had died four days earlier, slowly hobbled out—he still had grave clothes tightly wrapped around his hands and feet and covering his face! Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him loose.”
Jesus consistently glorified Our Heavenly Father in all His Words and actions. He continually confirmed the power and authority from Heaven which supersedes everything on this earth. This is Who we should be glorifying in our daily walk. Don’t let the temporary devalue FATHER’s glory in any way!