Sunday, July 6, 2014

For the Glory of God

Recently at church I was glancing through the book of John and a verse jumped out at me. Looking at verses through the tinted lenses of our current trials often makes me notice wording that I hadn't noticed it before. The verse is from a passage in John which starts with "Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany".

I should note that personally I really wanted to name my son Lazarus, but Alisha repeatedly vetoed it. If I had my way, Roscoe's name would have probably been Lazarus. Just think of the cool nicknames like "Laz" and "Russ", or the crazy scientist he'd become with a name like "Lazarus Wackerly". However, his name is Roscoe and that's that. We've already changed his name once (from "Dottie") so we're not going to change it again.

Jesus was informed that his good friend Lazarus was critically ill, and he responded with:

But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” - John 11:4

This is the verse that stood out to my eyes as relevant to Roscoe's story. Lazarus went on to die, remain dead for four days, and then be raised from the dead by Jesus. I find it interesting that Jesus said that the sickness would not "end in death". Had Lazarus never fallen ill or perished, God's glory would not have been shown through the healing that God ultimately provided.


My hope is that Roscoe's story mirrors the story of Lazarus. Had Roscoe never fallen ill or nearly perished, you may not have been following his story. I hope that Roscoe's sickness will not end in death. I hope that by Roscoe coming to the brink of death and then being healed, the glory of God will be revealed in Roscoe's life.

8 comments:

  1. Your hope is my hope....your prayer, my prayer.
    Praying for miracle healing for Alisha's birthday!
    Happy birthday lovely lady!
    Happy healing Roscoe-Laz-Dot!

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  2. Thinking of the song we sing at church......My Only Hope

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  3. God has allowed his story to touch so many lives! I continue to pray for Roscoe and family.

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  4. Wrapping my arms around you all day long. I know God is ....and holding Roscoe.

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  5. I am truly touched with every post you write about your little miracle.

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  6. Happy birthday to Alisha as we pray with you. More glory to God in the Highest!

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  7. At mass today the Gospel was the book of Matthew and I thought of Roscoe, you and Alisha. "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest...For the yoke is easy, and my burden light. Praying for your family.

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