The room was filled with family and friends, but the atmosphere was gloomy and the infrequent conversation was in hushed tones. He appeared to be asleep, but his labored breathing told the story: he probably wouldn't last the night. Occasionally his eyes would open, but there was a dullness in them that spoke of pain and pain killers and impending death. One sat at his bedside, gently stroking his hand. They all knew this day would come, but wished it could be at some distant point in the future.
It’s a story that I’ve often related for the sake of emphasizing the importance of even the smallest details in our lives, and to point up the fact that we can never know in advance the consequences of our own actions or inaction.
For want of a horseshoe nail, a horseshoe was lost.
For want of a horseshoe, a horse was lost.
For want of a horse, a rider was lost.
For want of a rider, a message was lost Read more
The crosshairs in the sniper's scope settled firmly on the man's forehead. It was an easy shot, even at this distance. In fact, those sitting near the target would hear only the dull thud of the bullet and see the resultant spray of blood, bone, and brain tissue as a life was swiftly ended; the life of one who had not so swiftly ended the lives of many others.
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.
I did a double take when I read these verses in John:11:5-6 the other morning. It was because of that little word "So" that appears at the beginning of verse 6 in the New King James translation. It has been omitted in the KJV and in many other versions, but it's there in the Greek. The word has the same meaning that we usually give it: "therefore, consequently, accordingly, these things being so, et cetra." I began to meditate on why the Son of God, loving Mary, Martha, and Lazarus as He did, would reveal that love by waiting two more days before going to see them, and I think I've arrived at the answer, or at least one that my finite understanding can grasp and comprehend.
