Jesus told those around Him to remove the stone of Lazarus’ tomb, but Martha said he had been to long in that state and his body smelled. But Jesus did not look at the circumstance, but the possibility. He wanted to breath life into Lazarus’ body and remove him from his current state to walk in newness of life. At times others may give up on us and see us as Lazarus, laying in a tomb stinking shrouded in our old ways, these may even be willing to remove grave clothes and see the good in others time after time yet overlook certain people. We may also fall victim to believing it is too late to redeem or bring others back who are left rotting in their circumstances, but Jesus is ready to speak life over any situation to bring life and newness. Let us renew our minds at what God desires to do which is beyond our own imaginations.
Lord, expand our minds and hearts to see what You desire to bring forth in those around us and in ourselves.
I say to you, come forth Lazarus and rise up, remove your grave clothes, come forth from the tomb, and walk in newness of life. I have called you for My purposes. I soothe and heal wounds of the past and present and say, behold I do a new thing in you.
Continue to walk in Me, believe Me, and trust Me for I bring good out of all situations for those who love Me and are called according to My purposes. Do not be discouraged or melt with fear for I Am your God. Do not stay in the tomb even though those around you try to speak death over you and refuse to see you arrayed in anything other than grave clothes.
These do not see what I working into you and do not even want to roll the stone away and remove your grave clothes, My love, I see your worth to Me and it is far above the treasures of earth. I tell you, this is your old man they see and expect, but I have made you new.
I continue to bring forth My newness in You as you worship Me, come into My presence, and meditate on My word. I change you from within and you shine from without to reflect My glory. I will speak to you more of wounds from within, but just know I reveal so that you can come out from under the yoke of despair and heavy mantle of suffering and bear my light and easy yoke.
I have made you for more than you can see now, let us walk together on the heights and behold My beauty that I create within you and surround you with. You will even pour My beauty onto others I bring into your path. Rejoice, My love, for all is well and I Am.
- “Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. ‘Take away the stone,’ he said. ‘But, Lord,’ said Martha, the sister of the dead man, ‘by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.’ When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Take off the grave clothes and let him go.’” John 11:38-44
- “‘I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, your King.’ This is what the Lord says – he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'” Isaiah 43:15-19
- “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
- “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began…” II Timothy 1:9