“Then Jesus shouted, ‘Lazarus, come out!’” John 11:43 NLT
Lazarus had been dead, wrapped up in burial cloths, and sealed in a tomb. It was pointed out to Jesus that this was going to be stinky. Messy, I’m sure. Decomposition had assuredly set in.
Kind of like us. We’re born into sin. We make a mess of our lives. We’re on our way to death and things can get very messy.
And then we hear the voice of the One Who can save us. He calls us by name!
“But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, ‘Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.’” Isaiah 43:1 NLT
What should our response be to the One Who loves us and calls us by name?
“And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, ‘Unwrap him and let him go!’” John 11:44 NLT
Today we should respond with a ‘yes’ to Jesus! If we are still wrapped in our old grave cloths, our past, let’s step out of them! And if God is calling us to either help someone or receive help in the unwrapping, let’s be lovingly obedient in the process. We can pray that we will be able to trust the true promises God has for us.
“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2 NLT
