Respond to God's Messages

Have you ever sent an email or text to someone and never received a reply?  Sometimes a message may go to spam or we never see it, and other times the message is read and not responded to.  Not all messages require a response, but many times they do.  There are times in scripture when people cried out to God and felt forgotten by Him because they did not see an immediate response.  Without question God sees and knows all and has His good reasons for what we see as delays.  The reality is God has sent us many messages through His word communicated by the Holy Spirit we have yet to respond to.  The "ball is in our court" so to speak, and responding to God's messages is our responsibility regardless if He seems to be silent.

I was reminded yesterday how Mary and Martha sent a messenger to Jesus to tell Him their brother Lazarus was sick.  The implication is they believed Jesus cared and had the ability to heal him, as He had demonstrated this power over sickness countless times in the past.  Contrary to their expectation, Jesus did not come to them quickly.  Jesus and His disciples did not arrive in Bethany until Lazarus had been dead from his illness four days.  The sisters of Lazarus mourned their brother's passing and also their belief it was a preventable tragedy.  This is shown by Martha's statement after Jesus arrived in John 11:21:  "Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died."  She felt great sorrow and regret over Jesus not being there for them when they needed Him.  Is it possible we assign blame to God for not doing what we think He should when He could?

Jesus, however, was working on another level.  He had responded to the message by intentionally waiting, and it was the loving thing to do.  He truly loved Lazarus without a doubt, yet He also cared for everyone else in Bethany and those who would later believe and testify of His glory.  Jesus went to the tomb of Lazarus, wept and then asked for the stone to be rolled from the opening.  John 11:41-45 reads, "Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. ⁴² And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." ⁴³ Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" ⁴⁴ And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go." ⁴⁵ Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him."

Jesus proved He is the Resurrection and the Life by raising Lazarus from the tomb who was dead four days.  The tragedy of the death of Lazarus worked to provide eternal life for all who trusted in Jesus Christ, having believed He was indeed the Son of God.  The power of Jesus to give life to the dead would not have been seen except Lazarus died, and Jesus knew what He would accomplish.  He also knew what He would accomplish through His death on Calvary and resurrection, proving He has power over sin and gives everlasting life for all who believe in Him.  God hears your cries, believer; He has received the message.  Have you responded to His message, this proclamation of divine power, goodness and glory?  In our troubles and trials we can look to Jesus with eyes of faith, knowing He hears, answers and draws near to all who draw near to Him.