New Grounds for Believing!

by Diana Kriesel

Monday, 8/9/10 – Jeremiah 3,4; John 11 - “New Grounds for Believing!”

S – John 11:14-15 – “Then Jesus became explicit: "Lazarus died. And I am glad for your sakes that I wasn't there. You're about to be given new grounds for believing. Now let's go to him." (from THE MESSAGE Bible)

O – The disciples were perplexed that Lazarus had died and Jesus waited 4 days to go to him. For Jesus to say “Lazarus is dead” and “I am glad for your sakes that I was not there”, seem shocking at first. But if Lazarus had not died, the disciples (and we, as readers), would not have this unique opportunity for our faith to go to a new level. It would have been a miracle for him to be restored to health, but far more amazing that he was restored to life after being dead for 4 days.

A – We often expect the Lord to act in timing and ways that seem obvious, or familiar to what we know. But He always does things ‘out of our box’ to give us ‘new grounds for believing’ and to take our faith up a notch. His aim is to perfect our faith.

P – Lord, forgive us for small expectations! Take us to new levels, and even in those areas where we it looks like a dream or hope has ‘died’- SURPRISE US with Your power and Your amazing miraculous work in our lives and around us.