Devotion - Wednesday, September 14

John 11 contains the story of the resurrection of Lazarus.  Jesus is told that Lazarus is ill, yet he lingers two days longer before heading over to Bethany.  This will figure into the story again later, when the sister of Lazarus asks why Jesus had not come before Lazarus dies.

This delay, on the part of Jesus, surely communicates that we should not become so self-centered or self-absorbed that we think our lives and our needs are the only thing which matters.  This delay does not prevent Jesus from attending to Lazarus, in the end.  But for the two days in between, Lazarus had to wonder where Jesus was and if he would come.

We all should learn patience.  Everyone one of us could increase our ability to trust that Jesus will come, when the time is right.  But waiting is lonely and painful and sometimes discouraging.  Let's be honest about that; honest about it in our prayers and honest about it in our conversations with one another.