I have promised, I will do it, says the Lord.

“This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”  (John 11: 4 NABRE)

Our adversity is always an opportunity for God to be glorified.  Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary was dead and the sisters sent word to Jesus about it.   Jesus said to Martha:  “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?”   (John 11:  40).  And He said, “Lazarus, come out!”  (John 11: 43). And commanded:  “Untie him and let him go.” (John 11: 44).

Are you bound and "tied hand and feet" by Unbelief?  If God can raise Lazarus from the grave after four days, He certainly can restore your marriage, health, finances, job, etc.
Faith is saying YES to God so that He will do what He promises to do.

"I trust in the LORD; my soul trusts in his word.
More than sentinels wait for the dawn, let Israel wait for the LORD."  (Psalm 30: 5 - 6 RM)

On this 5th Sunday of Lent 2017, glorify God by trusting in Him. 

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O Lord, My God, in You I take refuge.

“Let us destroy the tree in its vigor; let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will no longer be remembered.”  (Jeremiah 11:  19 NABRE)

You would be excused if you think the above Scripture refers to Jesus.  It actually refers to Jeremiah the Prophet.  Jeremiah is here a type of Christ. Throughout the Old Testament, the personality of Jesus is shown through the character and work of key Bible characters.  The struggles of Jeremiah with his enemies will parallel that of Jesus with Jewish leaders.

" I knew it because the Lord informed me: at that time you showed me their doings."  (Jeremiah 11: 18).  Just as Jesus knew all the plots of His adversaries, God revealed to Jeremiah the plots of his enemies.

In Gethsemane, Jesus might have prayed using these sentiments of Jeremiah:

"Lord my God, in you I trusted; save me; rescue me from all who pursue me, Lest someone maul me like a lion, tear my soul apart with no one to deliver."  (Psalm 7: 2 - 3)

In the case of Jesus, the Father did not rescue Jesus from those who seek to destroy Him.

On Day 32 of 40 of Lent 2017,
We pray with the Psalmist,
"Let the malice of the wicked end.
Uphold the just one, O just God, who tries hearts and minds."  Psalm 7: 10)

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His hour had not yet come.

"So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come."  (John 7: 30 NABRE)

At the fullness of time, Jesus willingly and deliberately gave up Himself to be tortured and crucified.

In God's providence and government, there is a time and season for everything. (Cf Ecclesiastes 3: 1 - 8).   There is a time for promises and a time for fulfilment of promises.

"So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come."  (John 7: 30)

On Day 31 of 40 of Lent 2017, the Scriptures today indicate that soon the Hour will come.  Good Friday is near.

Stations of the Cross.

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They forgot the God who had saved them.

“These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!”  (Exodus 32: 8 NABRE)

Unbelievable!  Israel forgot the God who had saved them.  They adored molten image of grass-eating beast. How painful this must be to behold.  (Psalm 106: 19 - 23).  How do you feel when you hear from your son or daughter:  "My friend gave this to me."  You see your labor of love attributed to a buddy. 

Abba Father loved the world so much that He gave His Son Jesus to save this world.  (John 3:16).  Yet some people may believe:  "My country loved me so much that it offers me eternal life."

On Day 30 of 40 of Lent 2017, let the People of God remember that every good gift comes from the Father above. (Cf James 1: 17)

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Can a mother be without tenderness for the child of her womb?

“The Lord has forsaken me;
my Lord has forgotten me.” Can a mother forget her infant,
be without tenderness for the child of her womb?
Even should she forget, I will never forget you."  (Isaiah 49: 14 - 15 NABRE)

The Israelites, true to character moaned that at last the Lord has settled accounts with them by a clean and complete divorce.  The Lord told them:  that is impossible and never going to happen.

Money, money, money, all is money in a rich man's world. Years after the ABBA Group topped the charts with this song, I learned that all is also money in a poor man's world.  Money is one of the big items in life that tempt us to believe:  "The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.”  (Isaiah 49: 14).  Jesus addressed this silly worry in Matthew Chapter 6.  The healing Scripture for me on money is below:

"Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never, never fail you nor forsake you.”  (Hebrews 13: 5)

On Day 29 of 40 of Lent 2017, the word of God invites us to learn to trust God in everything.  Man does not live on money alone.

Praise and honor to You, LORD Jesus Christ!

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God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

“Do you want to be well?”  (John 5: 5 NABRE)

The Lord Jesus asked a man who had been ill for 38 years the above question.   A sure sign that Jesus wants to heal him.  Then He commanded him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.”  (John 5: 8).  After a brief interval, Jesus found the now healthy man inside the temple and said to him:  “Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.”  (John 5 : 14).

In the world, there is abundant opportunity for our own type of sin:
"For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world."  (1 John 2: 16 NLT)

On Day 28 of 40 of Lent 2017, Jesus asks us:  "Do you want to be well?”  (John 5: 5).  Consider the 7 Deadly Sins and their opposites, the 7 Virtues:

1.  Pride   -   Humility
2.  Greed  -   Generosity
3.   Lust    -    Chastity
4.   Anger  -    Gentleness
5.   Gluttony - Temperance
6.    Envy      -   Brotherly love
7.    Sloth     -   Diligence

We cannot overcome our sins on our own.  With God all things are possible.  (Mark 10: 27).

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You may go, your distress has been removed.

"Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and left."  (John 4: 50 NABRE)

Are you scratching your head trying to understand what faith really is? Above is the best definition of faith in action.  Act according to this model and nothing will be impossible to you.  On top of this, you will receive for asking, the gift of understanding that helps you to perceive what God is doing in your life should He choose to block your path in any project.

The subject of our key Scripture today is described as a "royal official."   His son was healed "and he and his whole household came to believe."  (John 4: 53).  This is amazing and a challenge to all of us.  You may think:  "If only the Lord would perform a great miracle like raising the dead, wiping out cancer and ISIS from the world, I will be believe."  No, you won't.   “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones."  (Luke 16: 10 NLT).  What does this mean?  God is working miracles in your life every single day.  If you do not notice them and give thanks, even if the Lord were to raise a thousand dead people before your eyes, wipe out cancer and ISIS from the world, you will walk away preoccupied by other things.  God's word is a spiritual law. It never fails.

On Day 27 of 40 of Lent 2017, the word of God encourages you to humble yourself and pray:  "Lord, increase our faith." (Luke 17: 5).

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