“…fallen asleep.” Jesus knew Lazarus had passed away and was already in the tomb. His disciples, however, didn’t understand the choice of words. They said, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will get well.” So Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died. I’m glad for you that I wasn’t…

The scripture tells us that Jesus loved Martha and Mary. He loved Lazarus, too. His delay in going to them might make us wonder whether He really cared. Here’s the thing, Jesus’s delay was not His denial. He knew what lesson needed to be gained. He knew how best to…

HYMN DAY! The idea that faith is our victory fits well today, so here we are—“Faith is the Victory” by John Henry Yates. 1 Encamped along the hills of light, Ye Christian soldiers, rise And press the battle ere the night Shall veil the glowing skies. Against the foe in…

Lazarus’s sickness probably felt like a massive storm cloud descending on Martha and Mary, just as an illness or other hard life event affects us. But how many times, when we’re beyond the hardship looking back, do we see how God used the situation to bring about good? Right now…

Jesus had become close friends with a sibling group: Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. Lazarus fell ill, which would have been very disconcerting to his dependent-upon-him sisters in that culture. They were distraught, they needed help, and they knew to whom to turn: Jesus. These days when we’re distraught and need…

When you think about it, you realize Jesus had the power to resist going to the cross. After all, He deliberately prevented the Jewish leaders from arresting Him before the time was right according to His and God’s plan. Even as the hour approached, He prayed for God to take…

Jesus laid down His life. Read that again: Jesus LAID DOWN His life. No one took it from Him. He willingly went to that cross, and He did it out of obedience to the Father and out of His great love for you and me. He knew we could never…

HYMN DAY! “Whosever Means Me” by J. G. Badger isn’t commonly known (it’s a fun bouncy tune worth listening to!), but the words are wonderful. Even if you don’t know the tune, let the words speak to you. 1 Wond’rous love of Jesus, spread the news around; Pardon freely offer’d,…

Father knows me, and the Father and the Son are one. He knows me…and even though He knew how imperfect and broken and worthless in the eyes of much of the world I am, He still laid down His life for me. That puts a lump in my throat. How…

Francesca Battistelli sings, “I don’t need my name in lights, I’m famous in my Father’s eyes. Make no mistake–He knows my name.” HE knows MY name. At the age of eight years old, I asked Jesus to forgive my sins and become my Lord. Consequently, my name is written in…