Scripture Union Daily Guide 20 February 2024 || Lazarus Dies

Scripture Union Daily Guide 20 February 2024 || Lazarus Dies

Daily Guide Devotional For Today 20 February 2024 (Tuesday)

Do You Know That? Daily Guide Reading is published by Scripture Union Press & Books Ltd, an arm of Scripture Union Nigeria. Daily Guide is a true nondenominational, interdenominational Christian Bible engagement/reading aid – meditate on the Bible without denominational colorations. May the Lord bless you as you study!

TODAY’S TOPIC: LAZARUS DIES

Opening Prayer: Help me to understand the exceeding greatness of your power as I read through this passage, dear Lord.

SCRIPTURE: JOHN 11:1-16
1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary, and her sister Martha.

2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode for two days still in the same place where he was.

7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.

8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?

9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.

10 But if a man walks in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

Question(s) for Reflection
• Q7: What truth is God revealing to me in this passage?
• Q8: Is there any other Biblical passage that can help me understand this passage better

Outline For Scripture Union Daily Guide 20th February 2024

Bethany was about 3 km from Jerusalem. This is where Lazarus and his two sisters Martha and Mary lived. Jesus loved this family and Lazarus was His friend. Lazarus fell ill and died. Martha and Mary were devastated and wished Jesus were around so He would heal him. But notice how Jesus viewed the situation (v.4)? How do you feel when you pray for a loved one who is ill but ends up dying? Many of us are left in pain and with lots of doubts whether God is there at all.

In late 2022, some school heads planned to travel together to their Education Headquarters. After travelling about 100 km, the heads were involved in an accident and all of them died. Many people questioned why God allowed it. These were Christians leading church mission schools who would have prayed before starting their journey. Dangers may be faced sometimes in carrying out the will of God; but we should not give up (vs.7-9). We should believe that the trials we face will ultimately bring glory to God as Lazarus’s death would. Read Mark 8:35. Why did Jesus say Lazarus had fallen asleep (v.11)?

Practice/Word Application
Meditation: Where is God when it hurts?
• Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?

Closing Prayer
Pray for those who are currently hurting that their faith in God may not fail.
Offer a prayer of faith in line with Psalms 81:10
One-Year Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading Plan: Day 51 – Leviticus 22-23

NATIONAL PRAYER BULLETIN FEBRUARY 20, 2024

PRAYER FOCUS
SU MISSION FIELDS
“Your righteousness also, O God reaches the skies. You have done great things; there is no one like you”.
Psalm 71:19

THANK GOD FOR:
• All our mission fields and the missionaries, for God’s greatness upon their lives and ministry, and for souls that have been won on the mission fields.

PRAY FOR:
• More cordial relationships between the missionaries and the people and more open doors for God’s word to prevail in the lands.
• Divine protection and provisions.
• Broadened vision of what God wants and discernment on what to do.

PRAY AGAINST:
• Sudden attacks by the workers of iniquity and the mind to quit the work.