In the dictionary, a miracle is defined as an
extraordinary event through divine intervention in human affairs. A
miracle might also be used when describing a lottery win, or perhaps a
distant relative wills you the keys to his Ferrari and condo in Maui.
Or, a co-worker pays you back the $500 they've owed you for the past
five years! Such strokes of luck are often chocked up as miraculous.
As a follower of Jesus Christ, I look at the
Bible and marvel at the abundance of miracles documented in its pages.
These were visible, tangible, seeing and touching miracles. I don't know
about you, but I'd give anything to see Jesus heal the sick, or turn
water into wine, or see him appear to the disciples after his
resurrection. Seeing such events with my own eyes would be incredible!
I confess I have not experienced the miracle
of a pillar of cloud and fire to guide my path. Nor have I personally
witnessed instantaneous healing of blind eyes and crippled limbs. There
are times I wish God would reveal himself to me in such tangible ways.
In some regards, I am not at all dissimilar to the disciple Thomas, who
would only believe if he could see with his eyes and touch with his
hands. Believing without faith is not always an easy task. Can you
relate to this?
When I look back on
my life, I see evidence of God's hand clearing paths, breaking down
walls and opening doors. I've experienced situations where all the
pieces of a very difficult puzzle suddenly fit together and it all makes
sense. Glorious times when God steps in, winks at me and says, "Hey
Paul, don't worry so much. I've got this!" The secular world labels such
things as nothing more than coincidence. But in my heart, I see God's
hand in the affairs of my life, and I'm eternally grateful.
Let me ask you this. Are you ever jealous of
all the people who saw Jesus perform his miracles? I know I am.
When first asked to write an article on the
miracles I've experienced in my life, I'll admit I was a bit reluctant.
It wasn't that I didn't believe in miracles past and present, it was
because I struggled to think of any immediate quick fix, eye popping
miracles that came straight from the hand of God upon my fervent
request.
But then my wife reminded me that all miracles
are not instantaneous, that God does things according to his own agenda.
I have prayed many times for God to heal a loved one, for God to place a
job in my lap, or remove a painful situation from my life or those I
love. And it's during those times when God chooses not to deliver a
rapid fire response that I am reminded how my life has been already been
stuffed with miracles, healings, jobs and blessings of every other sort.
For example when
each of my three children were born, each became gravely ill with
different ailments--and following months and even years of prayer, they
are blessedly alive and prospering. When my wife became sick and her
organs began shutting down, I prayed and prayed for an instant miracle.
Others prayed, and yet she remained sick. Over years of crying out to
God to heal her, she slowly began to improve according to God's plan and
itinerary. When I lost my job and could find no work of any kind, God
finally opened a door from an unexpected source.
Such examples are
not instant miracles, but in my universe, they are divinely orchestrated
events. Things like daily food, shelter, clothing, money to pay bills
are all miraculous, as are unexpected blessings from unexpected sources,
and always just when they were desperately needed.
Coincidences you might think? Not a chance.
Being a child of the Living God is miraculous.
And Jesus giving his life for you and me is the greatest miracle of all!
And even more miraculous is that it's FREE! So grab hold of your miracle
and never let go!
"For it is by grace you have been saved
through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of
God--not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2: 9, 10 NIV)
Paul Smyth