John 12:9-11 The Plot to Kill Lazarus

I must confess. I was going to skip over this section. Three verses. Not much to say. Not much to account for.

Wrong.

Once I quit reasoning my way and listened to the Holy Spirit There was some very important points in these three verses.

1. Often times great persecution or tribulation follow great victories.

I cannot tell you how many times I have watched myself and others have great victory in an area of our walk with Jesus, only to see great failure follow.

Marriages financial successes, relationships, salvations, deliverences, freedom from addictions, you name it.

Sometimes I think it would be better to not have the triumphs just to avoid the failures.

Wrong thinking.

God brings us successes to bring glory to Him. that brings me to point number two.

2. Make sure the focus of the successes stays squarely on God's grace. Not your own efforts, or luck, or good fortune.

Can you imagine Lazarus telling the crowds "Look at me! I conquered death" "I am a miracle in real life!" "Do you want my autograph?"

Kind of silly when we think of Lazarus doing this.

But how many times do we see modern day preachers, evangelists, speakers taking credit for something God did?

How many times do we read books about miracles that give more glory to the sinner rather than the one that delivered the sinner?

Let's make sure we give God ALL the glory. Not just the leftovers.

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