Acts 14.9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking
intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well… - St. Luke
My word for the year is Miracle. I am associated with many people who need a miracle of God
to happen to them. For some it’s financial, for others, it’s health. Still for
others it’s relationships and for others it’s employment. The list is endless.
So I pray and ask God for miracles to happen in the lives of these people.
Now at Lystra there
was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and
had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at
him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, said in a loud voice, “Stand
upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking. And when the crowds
saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The
gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” (Acts 14.8-11 ESV) Miracles
are a testimony of God’s power and presence, and, of His tender mercies toward
us.
If you read the account in Acts 14, you’ll find that Paul
saw faith in a man to be healed.
Faith ought to be visible either in the walking, or the anticipating. Those who
walk in faith are visible. Those who are seeking God for something beyond what
they can ask or imagine are visible – something about them that causes others
to wonder.
Paul never meant to be a circus sideshow – he simply saw
the faith in the crippled man and in response called out for his healing; and
God, in His power and presence responded as well: crippled man rose and walked.
Now the crowd Lystrans didn’t fare so well – they thought
their gods decided to do something through their emissaries: Paul and Barnabas.
It is still true today – see one miracle, and we put it on the front cover of
every magazine, and newspaper in the country: When You See What Happens Next You’ll Be Reaching for Toilet Paper. Miracle’s are supposed to help us to see God;
but for many it’s just another unexplainable event that has no bearing on their
feeble lives. Entertaining, yes; life-changing, not so much.
God isn’t about entertaining us; He is about transforming
us. I think He gives miracles to those who look with eyes of faith for them.
Miracles aren’t always vast moves of God blowing people
away to the point where they are too astounded to come up with an explanation.
More often, miracles can be reconciliation of a ruined relationship. Miracles
can be the power of God to overcome addiction. Miracles can be the presence of
the Lord so strong that I cease thinking one way and begin to think another.
Miracles are usually unexpected, but are life-changing. That’s what I am
looking for. No drama, no trauma, just God.
My word for the year is Miracle. I’m living and praying these days for the changes in my
life and in the lives of others that only God can bring. With God all things
are possible. My prayer is that we have such visible faith that God sees and
grants the things we so desperately need, but have no means of getting.
Lord, see my faith – Amen.
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