Christ Church Daily Devotion Feb 16 2024

In this Daily Devotion, we read from John chapter 11 about Lazarus being sick. Jesus stays where he is for two more days before deciding to go to Lazarus. Thomas, known as Doubting Thomas, shows courage and loyalty in this scene. Despite his doubts, Thomas has an intimate relationship with Jesus and trusts him with his life. We should spend time with Jesus to understand his will for us. The personal worship option is to do something today to get to know God better. Welcome to Christ Church's Daily Devotion for February 16th, 2024. Today, we will be reading from John chapter 11, verses 1 through 16. Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. So the sisters sent word to Jesus, Lord, the one you love is sick. And when he heard this, Jesus said, The sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory, so that God's Son may be glorified through it. Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. And then he said to his disciples, Let us go back to Judea. But Rabbi, they said, a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world's light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light. After he had said this, he went on to tell them, Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up. His disciples replied, Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better. Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe, but let us go to him. Then Thomas, also known as Didymus, said to the rest of the disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. This disciple is most commonly known as Doubting Thomas. But in this scene, he is Courageous Thomas, or Trusting Thomas. He has obviously understood Jesus' teaching in sacrifice and carrying crosses. The Gospel says that in Christ, God expunges our failures. Grace, not sin, gets the last word. That's good news. So why do we continue to speak of Doubting Thomas? According to Max Lucado, Thomas was one of Jesus' most loyal followers. The Gospels portray him as reflective, not talkative, on three occasions. Where his words were recorded, it's clear Thomas thought long and hard before speaking. The first was the declaration in this passage, John 11, verse 16. The second, when Jesus talked about going away, Thomas let it be known he wasn't keen on the idea of being separated from Jesus, John 14, verse 5. And then, following the time of doubt, Thomas confessed Jesus as Lord, John 20, verse 28. One week of weakness doesn't tell the whole story of Thomas' life, or anyone's life. Jesus trusted Thomas with the ability to share the good news with many. Thomas had an intimate relationship with Jesus. They walked together long enough to know each other's heart. Thomas trusted Jesus with his life. Have you walked long enough with Jesus to know his heart? When you spend time with him and study, you see his passion? Welcome him to enter your heart and soul so you can understand his will for you. Your personal worship option today. What is something you can do today to help yourself get to know God better?