Reading

John 12:9-11 (ESV)

When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

Meditation

CS Lewis describes his conversion in Surprised by Joy, “You must picture me alone in that room at Magdalen, night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England”

Conversion stories can be great to listen to or read.  I love talking to people about their journey with God.  I love reading stories of change.  We hear those stories and think that perhaps our story is not enough.  But that is not true.

We are Lazarus. We were dead and now we live.  Our hope can be that many believe in Jesus because they see that difference.  It is the difference of someone who was dead but know is alive; something has changed in us.

We may desire a dramatic story.  We may think that our Christian upbringing negates our conversion.  It doesn’t.  You were dead and now you are alive.

Our lives can be so compelling to those around us because of our “Live-ness” that they would want to know more or never speak to us again.  Through Jesus Christ we are made new.

Prayer

Father, thank you for bringing us from death to life; we praise you for saving us.   Let our lives be one that attracts others to you and your glory.  Amen

Lenten Action

Praise God for His resurrection power in your life.  Write out your conversion story.  It may be a one-time event.  It may be an ongoing saga. It could be that you are still coming to grips with it. Write out your story.