Mercy and Miracles

 

If I was asked what a miracle was I would more than likely say it is something only the Lord could do and no one else.  The Lord may use someone to perform them, but He is the only one that can make them happen.  The Lord has been performing miracles for years and nothing is impossible with Him.  I don’t believe there are many people that would refuse a genuine miracle if it was to benefit them or someone they really cared about.

In Jesus’ day, while walking the earth, people asked to see a miracle or sign and Jesus said this in Matthew 16:1-4, “The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them and departed.”

Talk about a miracle, just think of being swallowed by a huge fish then being thrown up on the shore after three days then walking away.  This brings another miracle to mind, Jesus was crucified, died and was buried in a tomb for three days and nights then rose from the grave because the grave couldn’t hold Him and death had no power over Him!! 

I think if we were honest, we would all like to see signs and miracles today and many could use a miracle, but let me ask you this; if you never experience a miracle today, would you still believe and have faith to trust in the Lord or is that the tie breaker, so to speak?  What I am trying to say is that these people were not interested is pleasing Jesus or believing on Him they just wanted to receive something from Him, they just wanted to mock Jesus for showing off, they already knew what He could do.  But, the Lord wasn’t about to play their game, He knew what was in their heart and what their intentions were.

Jesus performed many miracles in the days He walked the earth and He is still performing them today.  But one thing He never did was to do something for a show or to bring attention to Himself; when He performed a miracle it was because of His compassion and love for people who were bound.  The reason He walked the earth was to set the captive free and to break the chains that bound them, which He is still doing today, praise the good Lord.

I feel that the greatest miracle is when someone is truly born-again.  When the conviction of the Holy Spirit comes upon a person and the person truly repents and turns from their wicked ways and turns to the Lord for forgiveness!! That person is set free and becomes a new creation in Christ, when they are stricken with godly sorrow that leads to repentance unto salvation that needs not to be repented of.  

I have seen people that feel that they are born-again that seem a lot like the donkey that was stolen from the farmer and tied up and put in a ditch.  It may have taken the farmer a couple of days to find him, but when he did he untied him and told him to get up but his donkey just laid there like he was still tied.  It took some pushing, pulling and prodding before the animal got up and started walking because he thought he was still bound.  It took the donkey a little while to realize that he had been set free.  I wonder if there are people that think they are born-again that feel like they are still bound up with their old habits and do not realize that the bondage has been broken and that they are set free.  Let me say this, if you are truly born-again, the same Holy Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in you!!  And think of this, when the Lord sets you free you are free indeed!!

The problem is that people have too many idols in their lives and they may not even realize it, so instead of running to the Lord when temptation comes upon them they bow down to their idols; and don’t forget, idols come in many forms covering a multitude of things.

Read what 1 Corinthians 10:11-14, “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

Temptations will come and we can run to Lord to help us to resist the temptations and find the way out, or we can run to whatever idol we think will give us relief at the time, the choice is ours to make and so are the consequences that we receive. I have given you something to think about and may you have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours with His perfect peace, love and joy and health and happiness!! And please thank and praise the Lord for He is worthy!!