Called By His name

“…everyone who is called by my name, whom

I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

(Isaiah 43:7 NIV)

“Why?”, is a question that we tend to ask when we don’t understand the reason for something that has happened. It’s a question that most of us if asked would admit that we’ve asked God. It’s a question that I’ve asked and have with tears in my eyes just yearned for an answer from God.

In John 11, when Jesus heard that his close friend Lazarus was dying, He told those around Him, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." (John 11:4 NIV) Then it says that Jesus stayed where He was for two more days. If it were up to Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, they would have had Jesus drop everything and come right then to heal their brother and keep him from dying. But as we read this portion of scripture we see that it wasn’t up to them and that it wasn’t about them, or their brother, rather the circumstance that they found themselves in was all about God’s glory.

It’s a very natural thing for us to become focused on ourselves when in the midst of our circumstances we find ourselves weighed down and burdened by the reality of pain and suffering. Could it be possible that the cancer our loved one is facing is for God’s glory? Can my losing my job and not being able to get one for this long be because God wants to be glorified though it?

Mary and Martha are beautiful in the way they relate to Jesus. They were honest enough to say to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” In reality Lazarus would probably still died, we don’t know, but we do know that the sickness, the death, the sorrow, the hurt and the pain that this family was feeling was all a part of God’s plan to reveal His glory.

In the midst of our circumstances, as we face uncertainties day in and day out, we must remember that not only were we made for God’s glory, but that every circumstance in our lives, the good, the bad and the seemingly indifferent, are all a part of the plan that God has to bring glory to Himself. It’s not about our good and well being, it’s about His glory which when accomplished will always work out for our good. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Rom 8:28 NIV) Our circumstances will look much different when viewed through the lenses of God’s glory. My friend, that is why we are here.