May 23rd

May 23rd    

God’s strength has not changed. He is the same God of the Bible. His love and mercy is the same. His power is the same. His presence has not changed. 

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Why do we act like He is different? What if the reason we don’t see the miracles today that we read about in the Bible is because we don’t think He is the same? What if it is because we don’t think He wants to do those things anymore? Let me ask you this…why is it that Christians in 3rd world countries still see those same kinds of miracles that we read about in the Bible?

Is it because we think we are too sophisticated for miracles? Are we too sophisticated for that kind of faith? Do we feel like we don’t need that anymore?

Are we only willing to have faith that fits in our little box? A faith that doesn’t interfere with our life in any way? Are we afraid to become a spectacle?

Or is it because we don’t feel worthy? What has changed in us? What has changed in the Church around this world that has gotten us so far from the faith and practices of the early New Testament Church?

Ask the Lord to show you the answer to these questions today and ask Him to help us as a Church find our way back to His heart the way the early church was when He walked with them.

John 14:12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

We think of miracles as somehow bigger or higher than normal. Like we are somehow less than able to ask for these things? But remember the disciples were ordinary men, called to be Christ followers just like we are and Paul called things like the resurrection of the dead basics of the faith, not higher or more difficult to grasp etc.

Hebrews 6:1-2 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

The point of all of this is not to say that we should be seeking to do or see miracles. The point is to make us examine our faith. Why is it so different from the New Testament Church? Why is our fruit so different? Let us pray today and ask the Lord to show us areas that we may need to adjust our thinking to line up with His thinking.

Jesus thank you that you are the same now as you were before the world was even created. Help me to remember that as I face the trials in my life. Help me to remember that you are still capable of handling everything I face with as many miraculous solutions as you were then. Help me to keep my faith in you and keep everything in perspective based on your power not my weakness. Show me any attitudes that need to be surrendered to you so that I can walk in the faith that you desire me to have. Thank you for your plan and patience with me.