Day 77 – Run To or Run From?
John 11:3-4
So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”
When I was at school there was one option for PE in the summer and that was rounders, rounders or rounders. I have vivid memories of it, but a distinct one was that moment where you had hit the ball badly (or in my case probably missed it altogether) and had to make a choice as to whether to run or not. Oh and just to add to the intensity of the decision you’ve got the rest of your team lined up behind you all shouting, ‘RUN!’.
Yesterday we read that tragedy had struck for Mary and Martha and their brother Lazarus was seriously ill. In that moment Mary and Martha had a choice to make. A choice as to whether to run or not, and more specifically which direction to run in. They can run to Jesus with all their fears, their doubts and their anger about why this has happened, or they can run from him.
When bad things happen we have this same choice. We too have to choose whether to run to Jesus, or we to run from him. On paper the obvious choice is to run to him. But in reality, when tragedy strikes, running from him, in anger, in disappointment and in fear can feel a lot more tempting.
Mary and Martha chose well. Why? I think it’s because they knew Jesus, they knew who he was and what he could do and they chose to run to him in their time of need. They had seen something in this man, something special, something that they meant they knew that this was the choice they had to make. They had an intimate friendship with this man. Let’s do the same. Let’s get to know him, let’s witness what he can do, let’s pursue intimacy with him so that when the moment comes and we can to run to him again and again.
Prayer — Jesus, you are my friend forever. Draw me closer into intimacy with you today. Help me to choose to run to you every single day.
Martha Goshawk
Gas Street Team