August 18 - If Thou Wouldest Believe.

John 11:40
“Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?”
 
God is Able…but He often asks for one thing from us in order to see Him do the impossible.
 
“…if thou wouldest believe…”
 
Jesus had already asked Martha if she believed in Him.
 
John 11:25-26
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
 
She said she believed…and then went her way.
Now, here they stood at the grave of Lazarus, the brother of her and Mary.
 
Jesus said for the stone to be taken away from the grave, and Martha immediately has something negative to say.
 
“…if thou wouldest believe…”
 
She was about to see the glory of God with her own eyes, and yet she still doubted.
 
John 11:41-43
“Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.”
 
Lazarus was alive, and Martha is not mentioned again in the chapter. The next time we find her she is once again serving, setting the table where Lazarus sat to eat supper with Jesus. The glory of God sat before her at the table she was serving.
 
The Lord desires to do the impossible in our lives…He only asks that we simply believe that He is Able.
 
What do you need Him to do in your life today?
“…if thou wouldest believe…”
 
 
Bible Reading:
Job 17-18   |    1 John 1