Posted by Charlie on Jan 9, 2010 in
Devotions Scripture: Genesis Genesis 23, 24; Luke 9
And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
Luke 9:17
Observation
The miraculous nature of Jesus’ ministry is presented so strongly in Luke’s gospel. Through his miracles Jesus revealed a number of very important truths about who he is.
In the Feeding of the Five Thousand, Jesus performs a creative miracle which demonstrates his deity. He starts out with a kid’s lunch, feeds five thousand men, plus women and children, and ends up with more leftovers than what he had when he he started.
Application
It’s so easy to get my perspective locked into the limited resources I have around me, and forget that Jesus is able to take the lunch roll I’ve got in my sack and turn it into something amazing. In the disciple’s case, they later argued about forgetting to bring bread, and Jesus chided them, “What’s wrong with you guys? Don’t you remember feeding the multitude? Don’t you understand?”
Prayer
Jesus, thank you for the reminder that you are God, and you are able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all I am able to ask or even imagine. I offer you the meager resources I have today and ask you to please do with them what only you can do. In your holy name, amen.
Tags: miracles, provision, resources
Posted by Charlie on Jun 20, 2009 in
Devotions Scripture: 2 Kings 4, 5; Psalm 83; 1 Timothy 2
So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.” Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few. And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.”
2 Kings 4:2–4
Observation
Bringing something out of nothing is no big shakes for God. In Genesis 1 he begins by bringing forth the universe out of nothing, forming the earth with its seas, dry land, animals, plants, and people. Then throughout the Bible he demonstrates over and over that he never changes—he is able to bring something out of nothing today just as easily as he did at creation.
In Exodus he provided manna in sufficient quantity to feed a million people daily for forty years. In today’s reading he creates oil on the fly as the widow pours it into jars. Jesus carried on the demonstration of creative power by multiplying bread and fish.
I think where we run into trouble in our 21st century world is that we’ve been snookered by the first and second laws of thermodynamics. The first law states that energy is neither being created or destroyed, it only changes form, and that In any process, the total energy of the universe remains the same. The second law states that the form of energy runs downhill over time (entropy), with a gradual decline into disorder. A quick look at my bedroom from one day to the next would seem to validate the second law.
God, however, is the Lord of his creation, and is the master of its laws, not the subject of them. For him to create is normal and not difficult. The only restriction I see seems to be the faith of the servant, not the constraints of the laws of physics.
Application
I believe one of the biggest truths I need to grasp more and more deeply over a lifetime is that God is always the starting point of everything in life. He has always been, and I was created specifically to live in relationship with him. He has placed me on this planet to be a steward of his time, his talents, and his treasure which he entrusts to me to invest for his gain. Sometimes it means he needs to create something out of nothing for that stewardship to function, but that is not a constraint for God.
The question, then, is, “What do I have in the house?” What resource, idea, talent, or treasure do I have that God wants to multiply into a kingdom-building miracle? The second question is, “How big am I willing to believe God can multiply it?” Elisha told the widow to borrow vessels from everywhere, from all her neighbors—empty vessels, and not just a few. God was ready to pour out bountiful provision, but only as much as she had faith to accommodate with her borrowed vessels.
Prayer
God, please open my eyes to see the magnitude of what you want to do through me and my family. Please give us wisdom to recognize what we have that we need to steward, and help us to understand what our “vessels” need to be. Grant the understanding of who you are in a way that we rise up in faith to see you multiply what we have been given, and that we can see it big enough to provide for ourselves, and have an overabundance to touch the lives of many for your kingdom’s sake. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Tags: creation, miracles, provision
Posted by Charlie on Feb 6, 2009 in
Devotions Scripture: Leviticus 1, 2, 3; Acts 13
“And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
Acts 13:11–12
Observation
In Mark 16 Jesus declares, “These signs will follow those who believe….” I have long pondered the question of what the normative role of signs and wonders should be in the proclamation of the gospel. Paul engaged in the use of signs and wonders at times in his communication of the good news about Jesus Christ, but not exclusively. In Salamis he struck Elymas the sorcerer blind, which provided a rather convincing spin to his words. Then, in Antioch in Pisidia, he stuck with a typical gospel presentation that was tailored for a primarily Jewish audience without the use of miracles. In tomorrow’s reading we will be back to signs and wonders.
Application
There are several things to think about here. In 2Cor. 12:12 Paul says, “Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.” It is likely that Paul, due to his apostolic anointing, was able to walk in a greater-than-normative use of signs and wonders in his proclamation of the gospel. I think in situations such as Peter healing the lame man in Acts 3 and Paul striking Elymas blind in Acts 13 it is probable they had a word of knowledge from God that they simply acted on in faith. I doubt Paul’s actions in Acts 13 were something he dreamed up on his own and then asked God to perform.
On the other hand, this needs to be balanced with the declaration of Jesus, “These signs will follow those who believe…,” it is also likely that most of us walk in less-than-normative use of miracles than what God intends. I know that from my experience it seems safer not to “walk out on the ice” by believing or praying for a miracle because I don’t really have the faith to expect God to follow through. I’m sure there are times when the Holy Spirit prompts me to do something that I fail to do because I don’t recognize what’s happening and am just being dull of hearing.
Today I want to be more in tune with what the Father is doing in the world around me. God has not changed since the book of Acts. These signs still follow those who believe. I want to join God in his work today and will seek to have open ears and eyes.
Prayer
God, you change not! I know you are doing mighty works today, and you have greater things to accomplish in the world around me than I can even imagine. Open my eyes and ears today to see and hear what the Father is doing. Grant me closeness in my walk with you to instantly understand and obey the prompting of your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Tags: gospel, miracles, signs
