By David ReayFriday 5 Apr 2019LifeWords DevotionalsFaithReading Time: 2 minutes
Read Luke 19:37
37 When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. (NLT)
When it comes to miracles, we can go off in two extreme directions. One is to rubbish the whole idea of the miraculous. I can’t see how they can happen therefore they don’t happen. Miracles are by definition impossible, therefore they can be dismissed.
This is rather arrogant. Who are we to determine what is or is not possible? It reveals a belief in a closed universe where everything that happens must be according to natural laws. Or more accurately, what we know of natural laws.
On the other hand, some in the circle of Christian faith might expect miracles to be commonplace. If a supernatural God is present, then miracles must occur. This, too, has problems. Jesus himself said we must not demand miracles: God doesn’t simply go along with our desire for the spectacular or unexpected.
And besides, once miracles become everyday affairs, by definition they cease to be miracles. God is not in the business of suspending natural laws every minute of the day. Our world would become utterly unreliable.
Christians believe in the great miracle of the resurrection of Jesus and the coming of God in human form in the person of Jesus. So we don’t deny miracles. We merely let God be the one to perform them, and ask him for discernment as to recognising them when and if they come. We might believe in miracles, but ultimately we believe in God.
Blessings
David Reay