I am going to be bold and state that I sometimes think that asking God for a miracle may indicate a lack of faith. Let me explain: Some of us feel that we demonstrate great faith by continually asking God for miracles. We assume that in every situation God wants to do the spectacular. We might presume, for example, that God wants to heal anyone who is sick or provide a miraculous escape from every difficulty we face. Jesus only chose to heal one man at the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem (John 5:1-8). And, out of the twelve disciples, all but one suffered horrible deaths in the name of Christ. Jesus condemned those who insisted that He perform miracles, because He knew their hearts. Jesus recognized that they could not believe Him without constantly undergirding their faith with signs and wonders. Their faith was not strong enough to survive without a regular supply of the miraculous. Jesus condemned this lack of faith and left them.
"A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." And He left them and departed." Matthew 16:4.
There are times when we prefer the miracle over the miracle worker. God calls this idolatry, and He discouraged it by refusing to provide miracles on demand. (Jeremiah 2:11-13). Friends, I believe that sometimes the greatest act of faith is not to ask for a miracle. One of the most amazing statements of faith we can find is in the Old Testament. It comes from the Book of Daniel where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego face the fiery furnace because of their obedience to God. They expressed their true faith when they declared to Nebuchadnezzar: "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." Daniel 3:17-18. They were confident in God's ability to deliver them, but they trusted Him so completely that they did not ask or pray to be spared.
Here's our question: Does our faith need miracles to sustain it? Many of us may say that we have complete faith and trust in the Lord, but then when the fiery trials and persecutions come, we cry out for deliverance in the form of miracles and wonders instead of confessing, "Thy will be done." Look around our world today at the many "miracle" things that we sink money into trying get ourselves out of situations whether they be health, beauty, financial. Yes friends, even many of us Christians spend large amounts of money on our woes instead of trusting in our Lord. If we say to the world that our God is powerful and able, then why don't we trust His righteous judgment instead of asking for signs and wonders all the time? Think on it.
May God Richly Bless You Today!! H Trent!
"A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." And He left them and departed." Matthew 16:4.
There are times when we prefer the miracle over the miracle worker. God calls this idolatry, and He discouraged it by refusing to provide miracles on demand. (Jeremiah 2:11-13). Friends, I believe that sometimes the greatest act of faith is not to ask for a miracle. One of the most amazing statements of faith we can find is in the Old Testament. It comes from the Book of Daniel where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego face the fiery furnace because of their obedience to God. They expressed their true faith when they declared to Nebuchadnezzar: "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." Daniel 3:17-18. They were confident in God's ability to deliver them, but they trusted Him so completely that they did not ask or pray to be spared.
Here's our question: Does our faith need miracles to sustain it? Many of us may say that we have complete faith and trust in the Lord, but then when the fiery trials and persecutions come, we cry out for deliverance in the form of miracles and wonders instead of confessing, "Thy will be done." Look around our world today at the many "miracle" things that we sink money into trying get ourselves out of situations whether they be health, beauty, financial. Yes friends, even many of us Christians spend large amounts of money on our woes instead of trusting in our Lord. If we say to the world that our God is powerful and able, then why don't we trust His righteous judgment instead of asking for signs and wonders all the time? Think on it.
May God Richly Bless You Today!! H Trent!
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