come forth ...

in John chapter 11,

one of Jesus' closest friends, Lazarus,

dies ...

when Jesus learned that His dear friend died,

 verse 35 says that Jesus broke down & cried.

He was broken-hearted that he had lost a friend.

 

later in the same chapter,

Jesus goes to the tomb Lazarus was buried in

& commands him to

"come forth!"

& Lazarus does just that ...

he emerges from his tomb

fully alive!

after he came out of his tomb,

Jesus told those around Him

to "unwrap him & let him go!"

 

i don't know why, but

these verses have been on my heart

for a few weeks ...

& i've been thinking about

all of the things

Jesus has commanded me to

"come forth"

from in my life.

 

grudges,

wounds from my past,

fear ...

just to name a few.

 

they were a tomb that enclosed me

& kept me from living a full life in Christ.

all the while, Jesus was commanding me to

"come forth!"

leave all of that nonsense behind.

He was waiting to breathe

new life into me...

His breath of grace & mercy ...

life-giving breath.

 

& when i finally emerged

from the things that held me entombed,

the graveclothes that bound me so tightly

were unwrapped

& i was let go.

 

some days, i feel myself

slipping back into a place that i need to

"come forth" from ...

& Christ is so faithful to be there

waiting to breathe life into me again.

 

don't let things in your life entomb you.

when you hear Christ telling you to

"come forth"

listen to Him &

let Him renew you with the life

only He can give!