The Dead Man's Position
post a comment | posted Apr 18
Over the last several months it's become very obvious to me that my position is crucial to my purpose. Think about it...if I never show up at work I can't do my job.
In Acts 1 Jesus tells his disciples not to leave Jerusalem until the right time and then in the beginning of Acts 2 it says something very telling..."they were all together in one place." What happens from there is amazing...presence of God falls, power of God is imparted, and the purpose of God is accomplished. What if they hadn't been together in that place or left earlier than Jesus wanted? The power of position.
In the story of Lazarus, a friend of Christ who had died, the same type of moment occurs...Jesus asks Mary to roll the stone away. This may not seem crucial to the story but I believe otherwise. Why would he ask this question or more importantly why would it need to be recorded? Position. That's it...Position. Jesus put Lazarus in a position to respond to His voice by rolling away the stone. If the stone was still in front of the grave then it would've just been a cruel trick...a guy that's been dead for a few days, wrapped up in linens, and then Jesus calls him out only to run into the stone that everyone forgot about. What if the stone had not been rolled away and Lazarus was in no position to respond? The power of position.
We, as followers of Christ, must put ourselves in the position to receive. Just like when your parents are talking to you while you watch TV and you only hear 2 words of 100...the same applies to your relationship with Christ. Sure you can catch a couple things He speaks to you over time but how much more if you 'turned the tv off'? He wants to speak life, courage, peace, power, joy, etc. into your life but you must put yourself in a position to receive. Roll the stone away and allow yourself to focus on what God wants to speak to you!
The power of position...get in position to receive from the heart of God. Read the Word, pray, go to church, put some worship music on, talk truth with friends...do anything you can to put yourself in position. Maybe for some of us it's more about the stone...the distractions that are compromising our position. Roll away the stone and hear His voice.