Miracles
There is something about attending a Missionary event. You hear stories of the "front lines", so to speak. Miracles. Healings. Life changing conversions. The Power of Prayer. Oh, I know not everything is glorious overseas. My short times in such contexts have illustrated the hum-drum of everyday-ness. Yet, there was an expectancy that God will do something to draw people to Himself.
Shouldn't we in North America have the same expectancy?
Last week I heard a missionary speak. She commented on the apparent disconnect between displays of God's power in developing countries and affluent countries. She concluded that we probably don't see many miracles here because we are too self-reliant. We don't need God. We are not desperate for Divine intervention. There is always some financial system, some medical institution or some person who can help us out. Thus God shows up where He is truly sought. And often that is where the poorest of the poor reside.
Yet, there is another aspect to why miracles occur more overseas than North America. It seems that signs and wonders seem to accompany the spread of the Gospel. It is God's way of authenticating His message and proving His power. The Gospel is presented. Often miracles are witnessed. Some attribute of God is emphasized. People believe. (Check out 2 Kings 5 for such an example.)
Does God do miracles purely out of love? I believe so. But this one is difficult for me to grasp. Because if God's motivation to heal is only love, then why do some people get healed and others do not? Daughter, you listened to a motivational speaker last week. The speaker was in a wheel chair. You came home upset and said, "Don't ask me about the assembly. I don't want to talk about it." It took me a while to provide a safe place for you to share what you witnessed. The truth came out. You were so sad that this speaker had lost her mobility because of an accident. We talked about healing and how God in His divine wisdom heals some and doesn't heal others. Yes, He loves us all. But sometimes there needs to be another reason coupled with love to heal (or could it be that His perfect love motivates Him NOT to heal?).
So, what would it take for God to move mightily amongst our affluence and draw people to Himself in large numbers again? What would cause a revival in our community and in our lives? Do we need some persecution or hardship or natural disaster to motivate us to seek God? Do we need to be so disillusioned that we desperately search out true answers again? Or are there miracles happening around us all the time and we are too self-absorbed to notice?
Christ stated that it is very difficult for the rich to come to God (Matthew 19:23). And you can see why. Because, the average North American values two things: personal peace and prosperity (See How Should We Then Live? by Francis A. Schaeffer). Just turn on the television, and a good portion of advertisement is directed to maximize your peace of mind OR increase your affluence. Flirting with risk isn't valued. Caring about other people's pain is avoided as it disrupts personal peace. Being without is undesirable. Hey, you can have it all now with the help of high interest credit. Sadly, certain brands of Christianity tout the prosperity gospel to fit this mindset: you can be healed, you can be rich, you can be safe. Miracles are sought for selfish reasons.
But is there a cost of witnessing or embracing a Divine miracle in one's life? I think so. God wants your entire life whether or not you experience any miracles or not. But if you do witness the Divine in Action, it may be for the purpose of deepening your faith in Him, so if He asks you to give up personal peace and prosperity for the sake of love, justice, mercy and compassion, you will do it wholeheartedly. That, in itself, would be a miracle.
Shouldn't we in North America have the same expectancy?
Last week I heard a missionary speak. She commented on the apparent disconnect between displays of God's power in developing countries and affluent countries. She concluded that we probably don't see many miracles here because we are too self-reliant. We don't need God. We are not desperate for Divine intervention. There is always some financial system, some medical institution or some person who can help us out. Thus God shows up where He is truly sought. And often that is where the poorest of the poor reside.
Yet, there is another aspect to why miracles occur more overseas than North America. It seems that signs and wonders seem to accompany the spread of the Gospel. It is God's way of authenticating His message and proving His power. The Gospel is presented. Often miracles are witnessed. Some attribute of God is emphasized. People believe. (Check out 2 Kings 5 for such an example.)
Does God do miracles purely out of love? I believe so. But this one is difficult for me to grasp. Because if God's motivation to heal is only love, then why do some people get healed and others do not? Daughter, you listened to a motivational speaker last week. The speaker was in a wheel chair. You came home upset and said, "Don't ask me about the assembly. I don't want to talk about it." It took me a while to provide a safe place for you to share what you witnessed. The truth came out. You were so sad that this speaker had lost her mobility because of an accident. We talked about healing and how God in His divine wisdom heals some and doesn't heal others. Yes, He loves us all. But sometimes there needs to be another reason coupled with love to heal (or could it be that His perfect love motivates Him NOT to heal?).
So, what would it take for God to move mightily amongst our affluence and draw people to Himself in large numbers again? What would cause a revival in our community and in our lives? Do we need some persecution or hardship or natural disaster to motivate us to seek God? Do we need to be so disillusioned that we desperately search out true answers again? Or are there miracles happening around us all the time and we are too self-absorbed to notice?
Christ stated that it is very difficult for the rich to come to God (Matthew 19:23). And you can see why. Because, the average North American values two things: personal peace and prosperity (See How Should We Then Live? by Francis A. Schaeffer). Just turn on the television, and a good portion of advertisement is directed to maximize your peace of mind OR increase your affluence. Flirting with risk isn't valued. Caring about other people's pain is avoided as it disrupts personal peace. Being without is undesirable. Hey, you can have it all now with the help of high interest credit. Sadly, certain brands of Christianity tout the prosperity gospel to fit this mindset: you can be healed, you can be rich, you can be safe. Miracles are sought for selfish reasons.
But is there a cost of witnessing or embracing a Divine miracle in one's life? I think so. God wants your entire life whether or not you experience any miracles or not. But if you do witness the Divine in Action, it may be for the purpose of deepening your faith in Him, so if He asks you to give up personal peace and prosperity for the sake of love, justice, mercy and compassion, you will do it wholeheartedly. That, in itself, would be a miracle.