Daily Devotional
If My Friend
Text: John 11:21
“Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.’
Message
John 11:1-2, says, “Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
John 11:2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.”
John 11:3 went further, “Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”
And in John 11:5, “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.”
So, looking at issues from human angle it was sad when John 11:6 says, ” So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.”
What will you call that? An act of disloyalty, carelessness and unfaithfulness to a friend in time of his need? So John 11:20 tells us “Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house.”
In John 11:21 Martha as a matter of fact said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” But why did Jesus actually tarried despite his friend’s emergency need for support which only Jesus could offer?
John 11:4 provides the answer, “When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Are we not guilty as Mary who sat in her mourning hopeless and Martha accusing Jesus of being late when call demands urgency?
Now, let’s relate the scenery to our daily lives when we out rightly without details of what our friends, loved ones and helpers are passing through needlessly condemn them for not rising to our help? From experience people have made demand for what I don’t have and sometimes asked I open a door who’s key is not in my possession! How I wish I could help in such cases?
Many left dejected never to return again only for me to hear of their backstabbing and wounds of friends directed at my heart simply so done because they don’t know that am as helpless as themselves looking up to Jehovah Jireh, the I Am That I Am in whom I can do all things and my needs meet in his strength.
Now it appears you have passed through such as a victim and at other times as the aggressor! My throws to you are:
What if that friend you assume is ignoring you is battling with depression, internal ailment or spending his life savings on medications?
What if that friend you consider stingy is struggling to pay huge debt?
Truth is you can never be too sure of what the next person is battling with behind closed door. There are hidden tears and pains behind many smiles, it’s not fake, it’s their strength and orientation of life.
Your worth is by the impact you make in people’s life. So think before u judge someone. Also, stop waiting for who reaches out first. Reach out first if you must pick offense.
Even if your friend, helper or love one delayed, you have a High Priest touched with what you are passing through. As with Daniel He has sent his angel ahead to shut the lions mouth, so that you come to no harm.
Let’s keep looking up unto Jesus our High Priest. He cares for you. He will never abandon you. His thought is to give you your expected end.
May love, peace, joy and long suffering be made manifest in our daily lives.
You will end well in Jesus Mighty Name.
Amen.