When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
      Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

This event of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead was indisputable evidence that Jesus was and is the Son of God. The Pharisees plotted to kill Him after this miracle. This resurrection power gives us confidence that when the believer comes to the end of their life, they enter into eternity and have heaven and God’s inheritance to experience.

But this story is also a valuable lesson on how Jesus wants to do for us what they did for Lazarus: “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” Becoming a Christian means a process of allowing God to transform us as we put off the old man and the tendencies of the flesh and put on the new man that is created in Christ Jesus. If any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation. There is a process of taking off our grave clothes of sin and putting on the likeness of Jesus Christ. The result is that the fruit of the Spirit is evident and expressed in our lives.

I am touched with the compassion of Jesus and how His resurrection power is available to me today so that I can replace my impatience, fears and frustrations with His patience, courage and peace. God is refining me and shaping me to be more like Christ and my desire is to fully cooperate with Him rather than hinder that process by my own selfishness. I need to walk in humility before Him so that I can respond to the Spirit of God working in my life. Jesus helps me to get rid of those grave clothes as I spend time with Him in prayer, as I fellowship with believers, and as I let His Word shape my thinking.

Thank You, Father God for loving me enough to help me with the grave clothes of sin. Come Lord Jesus and do that work in me of helping me to trust in You and surrender to your way of living. Fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I may be changed into your likeness. I worship You today and choose to walk in your presence.