I heard that when preaching if I could use this message it may be possible that someone else can too. Like so many times this is for my own heart and I pray that God uses it for yours. Let us roll the stone away and believe that we may see the glory of God.
Extra Credit: As we work daily on this stone may it please Him that we are Growing in Grace. Taken from a sermon by Charles Spurgeon
Jhn 11:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
Jhn 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
- How can we relate to Marthas reaction?
All the commentaries I read on these verses point out that God could have just as easily commanded the stone to roll away untouched as it was to call a dead man from the tomb. Instead God ask the by standards to remove the stone. But this seems to be the same in many other cases as well. Much like Christ first miracle at the wedding, turning water to wine, man was first ask to fill the waterpots with water. His miracles, His providence, His power was not meant to destroy mans responsibility. Everyday we are to walk after holiness, everyday we should strive for spiritual good, everyday we should pray to God to strengthen us and help us be ambassadors for Christ. Our daily command is to take away this stone and reveal His work. Though in our unbelief we may be weak and cry out like Martha that it is without hope, let us instead remember that with God all things are possible and so it is so with those who believe. Let us pray for Him to give us faith that we may see His glory. By His grace let us not stand idle under the pretense of humility but in reverence try daily to do what God gives us to do.
