Mark 2: 1-12 (Friday, January 18, 2008)

The paralytic expected a miracle of healing from Jesus. He wanted to be physically healed from his paralysis. After all the time and energy spent trying to get him into the building, Jesus rather says to him “Child, your sins are forgiven you.” He wasn’t expecting the forgiveness of sins, neither did he even consider the fact that Jesus has the power to forgive sins. I suspect he would have been very much disappointed if the doubts of the scribes did not lead Jesus to physically heal him. Jesus however does not see like we human beings. He knows the inmost part of our being that is even hidden from us. He knew that what this man needed the most was not physically healing, but spiritual healing. We too like the paralytic sometimes approach Jesus with what we feel we need the most without receiving an answer from Jesus. At those times, Jesus is always present working miracles in our lives – miracles he knows that we truly need. Don’t get discourage or disappointed when you do not receive an answer to a prayer. Trust that Jesus who knows your true need is present working his miracles.

Do you believe that Jesus is always working miracles in your life?

Luke 7: 11-17 (Tuesday, September 18, 2007)

Nain was a city that was close to Shunem. Shunem is important to our gospel of today because in Shunem, the Prophet Elisha had raised a boy to life. In 2 Kings 4: 18-37, we see the story of Elisha prophesying the birth of a son to a woman whose husband is getting advanced in age and they have no children. When this child grew to the age of helping the father with farm work, he had a headache and died. Elisha however brought him back to life. This miracle testified to the fact that Elisha was truly a man of God. Given how small this whole area was, the story most likely spread to the surrounding cities such as Nain, the city Jesus performed today’s miracle. Also, as a culture rich in oral tradition, this story got transmitted from one generation to another. In today’s gospel when Jesus performs this miracle of bringing the son of the widow back to life, the people acknowledged that “a great prophet has arisen in our midst.” They are very much familiar with great prophets of old such as Elijah and Elisha who performed such great miracles as the one performed by Jesus.
One of the things that touch me so much in today’s gospel is Jesus’ words, “Do not weep.” Like the widow who has lost the only son, there are many things that we weep about in our own lives. It may be a failed marriage, a failed business, a failed relationship, etc. Jesus says to you today, “Do not weep.” He shows that he is not only Lord over life, but he is Lord over death. He is not only Lord over success; he is also Lord over failure. Trust that he will lead you through those times of failure.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, I come to you today with all my failures. I believe that you are Lord over failures. Please Lord, transform my failures into success that I may reach the potentials you have for me.

John 17: 14-20 (Saturday, August 11, 2007)

The disciples could not perform a miracle because of their lack of faith. It is not that they did not receive the power to perform the miracles, but their faith was not strong enough. Throughout the scriptures, we are assured of this power to perform miracles. For Christ’s disciples, nothing is impossible for them to do. We are the disciples of Christ and this is directed at us. It is very easy for us sometimes to just give up. We sometimes invoke the will of God to defend our lack of faith. We will say, “oh it is the will of God that things should be the way they are.” While nothing happens without God’s knowledge, sometimes things happen because of his permissive will. He permits them to happen.

We are challenged today to look into our lives and see those places where we need a miracle. Let us approach God with faith and ask him to perform a miracle. He has given to us the authority to perform miracles. Let us hold firm to that authority.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, enlarge our faith that we might boldly prophesy miracles of transformation in our lives and in the lives of those around us. May we be instruments of your miracles in the world.

John 17: 14-20 (Saturday, August 11, 2007)

The disciples could not perform a miracle because of their lack of faith. It is not that they did not receive the power to perform the miracles, but their faith was not strong enough. Throughout the scriptures, we are assured of this power to perform miracles. For Christ’s disciples, nothing is impossible for them to do. We are the disciples of Christ and this is directed at us. It is very easy for us sometimes to just give up. We sometimes invoke the will of God to defend our lack of faith. We will say, “oh it is the will of God that things should be the way they are.” While nothing happens without God’s knowledge, sometimes things happen because of his permissive will. He permits them to happen.

We are challenged today to look into our lives and see those places where we need a miracle. Let us approach God with faith and ask him to perform a miracle. He has given to us the authority to perform miracles. Let us hold firm to that authority.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, enlarge our faith that we might boldly prophesy miracles of transformation in our lives and in the lives of those around us. May we be instruments of your miracles in the world.

Matthew 13: 54-58 (Friday, August 3, 2007)

It is a common saying in society that “familiarity breeds content.” Jesus is in his home town. The people know him – they know his father Joseph and his mother, Mary. Their human knowledge of Jesus prevented them from believing in him. Their questioning did not lead them to believe in him, but it only led them to doubt his powers. Their failed to see Jesus with the spiritual eyes, but they only saw him with the human eyes. With the human eyes, he was just like every one of them, but his followers who saw him with the spiritual eyes knew that he was more than the son of Joseph and Mary, but he is truly the Son of God. Their failure to tune themselves into the spiritual realm, so that they will see beyond the human made them fail to believe. And the gospel tells us that for lack of faith, Jesus did not work many miracles there.

How can we tune ourselves into the spiritual realm to see Jesus as he truly is? It is through a prayerful study of the scriptures. Without this, it is difficult to believe in him to the extent that you can begin to experience his mighty miracles in your life.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, reveal yourself to us in the scriptures that we might see you as truly the Son of God. Strengthen our faith so that we will be confident enough to lay all our burdens on you trusting that you will take care of them. When we get bored studying your scriptures, excite us so that we will be steadfast in the prayerful study of your Word. We believe that your Word will transform us and bring many mighty miracles to our lives.