“It was because you haven’t enough Faith,” answered Jesus. “I assure you that if you have Faith as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this hill, ‘Go from here to there!’ and it will go. You could do anything." Matthew 17:20.
Sometimes, we tend to take the Bible too literally. We forget that when Jesus spoke to His listeners He used the idiom and phrases commonly used at the time.
In Britain there’s a saying, “Keep your hair on”, which means calm down, don’t get so excited and worked up, relax a little.
It would be wrong if 2000 years from now that saying were interpreted to mean an adverse comment on male baldness.
When Jesus referred to moving a hill He did not mean it literally. Miracles are not magic tricks, and the Holy Spirit, for it is He who performs miracles, not the disciples, and certainly not us – the Holy Spirit would not perform a miracle for no purpose. Every miracle performed by Jesus and the disciples has been to do good, for the benefit of others in need.
In this context, the disciples had failed to drive out a demon from a young child. They asked Jesus why they had failed.
Jesus taught them, and us, that a pre-requisite to performing miracles is to have Faith in Him, in God, and in the Holy Spirit.
To have Faith and to believe in the power of the Almighty.
And yes … miracles do happen in this day and age, today even.
The problem is that we are too unwilling to believe.
Thanks for the Sunday inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteGod bless.
This right here is oh so true ... back in Jesus' days on earth and now --> 'Miracles are not magic tricks'
ReplyDeleteBut God hasn't changed and He still is willing and able to move those huge mountains in our lives. If we would just let them go ...
Blessings to you today, Victor ...
Well said, Linda.
DeleteGod bless you.
Yes, Victor, miracles still happen, each and every day, when we have faith.
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday!
Thank you Martha. Best wishes to you and your family too.
DeleteGod bless you all.
I believe that miracles do indeed happen in our day when we believe that they will. Good lesson, Victor.
ReplyDeleteThank you Terri.
DeleteGod bless you.
Miracles do happen, we've been blessed with a few in our lives and without them, who knows where I would be.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder, we all need to be refreshed every now and then with the lessons of a fruitful life.
Thank you Bill for telling us you have witnessed miracles. Yes, they do happen.
DeleteGod bless you always.
Great message, Victor. I like to believe miracles still occur; perhaps my biggest fallacy is expecting one to conform to my expectations before my very eyes. (Chuckling, but I hope you know what I'm trying to say.)
ReplyDeleteIndeed Mevely. The thing is, sometimes we don't realise that a miracle has happened until some time afterwards. We think back and say ... yes, that was most probably a miracle and I didn't see it at the time.
DeleteGod bless you my friend.
Very profound. My failing is that I claim faith and then watch to see what happens. Miracles happen in due time.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, we all feel like that at times.
DeleteGod bless you Susan.
Sometimes our world is not in the 'best of places' so it can be hard - but miracles can and do happen - we must have faith.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
You are so right, Jan. Sadly, Faith is lacking in so many people.
DeleteGod bless you.
Jesus does you use hyperbole a lot but it took me a while to realize this. I really did take him literally but with a little twist. For instance I took the moving of mountains by faith to mean that no one really had that much faith and that there was an minuscule of doubt in everyone. But I guess I've come to realize it's just hyperbole to make a point.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, Manny. But your take on it is true also. Jesus was pointing out that there is a little of doubt in all of us. If we are honest, do we not sometimes feel that doubt when we pray?
DeleteThank you for visiting here again, Manny. God bless you and yours.
How true! Miracles do happen! I have been praying for my family every night and keeping my faith in God strong. Today I found out that my brother-in-law has had surgery and has a new liver. Two other livers would not work for him. He was near death and had a tube down his throat. He is not out of the woods yet but at least he now has a chance. He could wiggle his toes...how wonderful!!! But God didn't stop there. My sister is out of the hospital! She was down to 107 pounds and they couldn't find what was going on. Her stroke and heart attack had nothing to do with her weight loss. She now has the answer and is receiving the correct medication. Thank you Victor for your prayers. God is listening.
ReplyDeleteGod's Blessings to You ✝
Thank you so much for your good news, Jan. We will continue to pray for you and your family. And thank the Lord for listening.
DeleteGod bless you all.
So true Victor! Thanks for an inspirational post.
ReplyDeleteThank you Regina.
DeleteGod bless you always.