Gratitude

“So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me” John 11:41 [emphasis added]

You need to respond appropriately to God. Yesterday we looked at three responses and today we will drill even deeper into those three responses. Ezekiel’s Response: “Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” “O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.” Eze.37:3 [emphasis added].  What Ezekiel was saying in essence is, how can I boast of such knowledge? Fantastic response.

Mary’s Response: “Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” Lu.1:34 Fantastic response. Mary’s response showed that she was seeking knowledge and understanding. But Martha’s response was very different from the other two.

Martha’s Response: “Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.” John 11:23-24. Is that what  Jesus is saying? There are people who always think they know or have answers to every question. Most of the time, that is all that it is… they think they know.

To have the right response, you must know that you do not know. Ezekiel said, You alone know the answer to that Lord; I do not know. Mary said, Lord how can this thing be? You must know you do not know. When you think you know, you are going to make mistakes. To have the right response, you must listen and not offer God advice. To have the right response, you must defer to God’s Almightiness. You must know that He is Almighty. To have the right response, you must ask the right questions.

To have the right response, you must co-operate with God. There are many of us who want to move from death to life but we are not co-operating with God; you are not co-operating with God. For some, they are not living for God. God wants you to take a step toward Him but you are taking a step away from Him. To step away from God is to step towards death. To step into God is life.

“So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me” John 11:41. Gratitude is the best response you can give to God, ever.

Prayer: Father, I thank You for this season and its undeniable fruit in my life, in Jesus Name.