Probably most of us could come up with a definition of a miracle that would be accurate enough. A miracle may be defined as a surprising event that cannot be explained by natural or scientific laws. While we can quickly come up with a definition, we might not be as quick to come up with an explanation for them. We’re told in John 20:30, “Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”
Miracles could be described as proof of God’s design or power. Everything He has ever done has been part of a bigger picture that help(s) (ed) people to trust in Him as our heavenly father. Therefore, Jesus, His only son, did the same things that God had done in times past. Jesus was proving to His followers that the words He spoke truly were connected with God and eternal life.
God told Peter (and the others with him) on the Mount of Transfiguration, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:5) “Listen to him!” It is important that we listen to the words of God if we expect to see or understand how His kingdom is structured and who will live with Him someday.
But to listen, there has to be someone speaking. “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:14-15)
People often argue over the existence of miracles today. People claim to do great and amazing things in God’s name, but many times, the rest of their story doesn’t match up with Jesus’ teachings. However, there are others that are so blind to what God is doing all around them that they fail to see the opportunities to discover the hope of living by the Spirit or the blessing and faithfulness of bringing hope to someone else through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Miracles were designed to point the one witnessing it towards God; therefore, Christians are intended to live their lives like little miracles that the world can’t quite explain but by doing so we point people to God. Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Godly living is like witnessing a miracle. When we actively search for opportunities to bring hope to the hopeless, then we are mimicking our Savior – Jesus Christ.
Friday, September 27, 2019
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Decide Not to Sin
What keeps you from indulging in sin? Perhaps there could be several answers to that; the Holy Spirit’s guidance, positive peer pressure not to sin, a friend’s intervention? All of these are part of God’s design to keep our hearts tuned in with His.
James 1:14-15, “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”
Therefore, as far as it depends upon me, self-control becomes key to saying ‘NO’ to sinful choices. But the desire to say NO and actually saying NO can be two different things. Paul shares a struggle he had that all people have. Romans 7:15, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.”
We do what we don’t want to do, in part, because we justify how, or why, a particular “gray area” is actually okay, when in fact it isn’t. Or perhaps we don’t test the advice we receive on things like getting revenge, pursuing a desire, or accepting a doctrine. God’s word was designed to serve as a testing manual to help us make decisions that are rational and wise, and, most importantly, to honor God!
Hebrews 5:12-14, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
When we are humble enough to recognize that we need another source to be our aide in making decisions, and when we recognize that source to be found in the Spirit’s guidance through the Word, then perhaps we can be more hopeful that our decision-making process will end in less regret, and instead, more praise to God.
James 1:14-15, “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”
Therefore, as far as it depends upon me, self-control becomes key to saying ‘NO’ to sinful choices. But the desire to say NO and actually saying NO can be two different things. Paul shares a struggle he had that all people have. Romans 7:15, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.”
We do what we don’t want to do, in part, because we justify how, or why, a particular “gray area” is actually okay, when in fact it isn’t. Or perhaps we don’t test the advice we receive on things like getting revenge, pursuing a desire, or accepting a doctrine. God’s word was designed to serve as a testing manual to help us make decisions that are rational and wise, and, most importantly, to honor God!
Hebrews 5:12-14, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
When we are humble enough to recognize that we need another source to be our aide in making decisions, and when we recognize that source to be found in the Spirit’s guidance through the Word, then perhaps we can be more hopeful that our decision-making process will end in less regret, and instead, more praise to God.
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
The Power of the Word
On September 11, a terrorist attack--consisting of a series of airplane hijackings and suicides-- marked the deadliest terrorist attacks on American soil in U.S. history. Eighteen years later, that day on which nearly 3,000 people lost their lives is still fresh on our minds, becoming a notable transition in our economy, our security, and our overall outlook on the integrity of our nation. Or as some have stated, “a dawn of darker times.”Personally, we go through our own dark times of serious trials, and it’s important to know how to turn to God for the answers. Do we know how to use the Bible as a resource? Paul says in Romans 15:4, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”
Jesus helped many people deal with rejection, failure, fears, isolation, depression, and even explained what to do with our wealth and knowledge. All these instructions serve as a reminder to us of the power of God’s word. When “the Word (Logos) became flesh and dwelt among us (Tabernacled), and we beheld (observable behavior) His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
His life served as a landmark for a change in all societies for all times for the good. Yet Satan works hard to keep people in the dark. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, “If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”
Which is why its so important that we understand the value of scripture in helping people deal with losses, fears, worries, etc. Too many times we can be quick to spout verses and not really know how to use them to help people going through an “attack” (1 Peter 5:8), people who are still bound up in darkness. Let us never forget or underestimate how powerful God’s word is.
Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
John 12:48, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.”
1 Thessalonians 2:13, “…when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.”