10. Lazarus’s life, death and resurrection may have brought risks, but the blessings far outweighed them.
Lazarus's friendships and relationships with Jesus and his sisters, his sickness, death and new life were all used to teach others about who Jesus was and is. To show us God's power, his purpose and his desire is for a relationship with us. Are you willing to allow God to work in your life? Are you willing to suffer now for the sake of Christ? Are you willing to be used by God no matter what way that might be? Remember, the enemy doesn't want you to prosper, to have direction or purpose. He will do whatever it takes to destroy you, so YOU must do whatever it takes to have life. Our life comes from the Savior.

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.
—John 12: 9-10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
—John 10:10

11. Our lives, like Lazarus’s, can produce a legacy.
When we follow the Lord, be obedient and share our faith with others, we produce a legacy. It's like when you throw a rock in a pond, and the ripples go out. Our lives, whether we live for God or not, affect others. So let's make sure it affects them in a way that draws them to Christ. Keep praying for each other, pouring into each other and loving one another. You never know where it might go. It might even spread like wildfire.

Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"
—John 12: 17-19

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
—John 11:25-26

I can only pray that as I continue to grow in my walk with the Lord, that others would one day say . . . "there goes Kris, the one Jesus loves." Loves, because of not only what He did on the cross for me but as a result, I have learned to love Him completely. I pray this for each of you as well so that many, many others would come to Christ . . . and it spreads like wildfire.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
—John 13:34

Kris Swiatocho is the President and Director of TheSinglesNetwork.org Ministries. Kris has served in single adult ministry in various capacities for the last 20 years. An accomplished trainer and mentor, Kris has a heart to reach and grow single adult leaders so they will in turn reach and grow single adults. She is currently working on her second book, "Jesus ... Single Like Me," and her first book, "Singles and Relationships: A 31-Day Experiement," was co-authored with Dick Purnell of Single Life Resources.

TheSinglesNetwork.org Ministries  helps churches, pastors and single adult leaders evaluate, develop, and support their single adult ministries through high-energy speaking engagements, results-oriented consulting and training, and leadership development conferences and seminars. Click here to request a FREE "How to Start a Single Adult Ministry" guide.  

"Singles and Relationships" by Kris Swiatocho and Dick Purnell 
Many singles are Christians who wonder if God will ever bring a mate their way or if they should just stop focusing on a future with a marriage partner and live their single life to the fullest. Kris Swiatocho and Dick Purnell offer solid biblical answers for singles in this newest title in Dick's popular "31-Day Experiment" Bible study.