John 11:25-26 says; "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" Now carefully read Martha's response; "She said to Him, "Yes, Lord; I have believed that you are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world." John 11:27.
Martha believed that Jesus was the Son of God, even that He was the Christ, but she didn't answer His question, she fell short of the whole truth that He was proclaiming to her. This Jewish lady was having a conversation with not only her Rabbi and friend, she was face to face with; I AM WHO I AM from the book of Moses, the Resurrection and the Life was standing before her and she didn't recognize Him. She missed His offer to take her deeper.
On one occasion the disciples were in a terrible storm at sea and Jesus was asleep in the boat, they woke Him up fearing for their lives, they did not know that the Prince of Peace was on the boat with them! The disciples on the road to Emmaus listened to the stranger walking with them explain all of the Scriptures from Moses thru the Prophets regarding the Messiah, and their hearts burned within them. Yet they did not recognize the Living Word as He proclaimed the written Word regarding Him, Christ the Messiah! When Jesus asked His disciples to give the multitude something to eat, they did not know that the One who was asking was the Bread of life come down from Heaven! Jesus was offering to take them deeper.
All of these knew Jesus, they knew He was the Son of God but their revelation of Him was very limited. It causes me to consider my own life, yes I believe Jesus is the Son of God, I too believe that He is my Savior and that I have eternal life through Him! That knowledge is but the beginning of our life long discovery into the mystery and magnitude of our Lord Jesus Christ!! There is so much more; to know, to learn, to discover, to discern, so much more to love, so much more to measure and unfold is this Savior of ours!!
Using the allegory of the believer's life in Christ as a race; then the starters gun sounds the second we are born again through faith in Christ Jesus. If you stop there you are saved but you are missing the entire race that God has planned and designed just for you! But to run the race you must seek to know the Lord Jesus with all of your heart, you must seek Him daily in studying the Word and in prayer. Jesus not only equips us to run the race, He will be with us every step of the way. He leads, we follow, that is the way it is!
Don't settle for anything less than discovering God's will for your life and living it! Martha missed what Jesus was proclaiming to her because she stopped listening when He attempted to take her beyond what she knew. Don't settle for shallow, follow Jesus to the deep end, you will never, ever regret your decision.
Thank you for the word of God..
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