God’s Miracles

But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”

“All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

“What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.    John 2:18-22 (NLT)

Jesus ticks off the Church leaders because He humiliated them. He kicked their moneymakers out of the Temple. The Law said that you had to give a perfect animal in order for your offering to be perfect. Inside the Temple courts was a marketplace selling animals for the sacrifice. And, if you happened to be from out of town, they even had moneychangers who would give you the “right” kind of money – for an extra price. Then you could buy an animal – but not all animals were the same quality. There too they “got you” by selling you “fair”, “good”, “perfect”, and “really perfect” animals at different prices. What a racket! It’s too bad we haven’t learned yet. Today we have monetary tithes and flowers to buy for our altars and gold plates to tack on to any surface in a church that proclaims our “offerings”. And if Jesus tries to “clean house” by convicting us about our budgets and big buildings, the first question is: “By what authority are you saying this?”

God’s miracles are in front of me every day. There are too many days, however, that I allow my eyes to be distracted by worry, frustration, and the _______ trials of this life. (The blank is for whatever word you want to put in to describe an event that happens “just because”.) It’s not about ignoring real life and living in some fantasy world. It’s about seeing it all with honest eyes. Jesus wants me to keep my eyes on the Big Picture.

Jesus tells the leaders that the Temple can be destroyed and God’s Kingdom will still live. But they can’t see beyond the stones on a building and that a day is defined in 24 hours. No!

God’s Kingdom is alive and growing if God’s Great Commission is being executed. Contrary to what most church leadership believe, it is not about numbers of people in the pews or how many are tithing. If leaders are Jesus’ disciples and they are about growing more disciples for Jesus, then the church will be doing “the real stuff” like missions, outreach, service, worship, studying the Word, and tithing – well, that will happen because people give to their passions. Each group has to listen and hear and obey the call that God has placed on them. It’s not about how big the building – it’s about how big is our LORD! Do we see Him? Do we magnify Him for others?

Praying. Being able to talk to God is a miracle. He listens any time of the day on any given day. He doesn’t get “tired” of hearing my voice. I get one-on-one time with Him!

Personal Trainer. Jesus is my personal trainer. Jesus is in the miracle business. He is there with His Spirit to teach me, review, teach me again. Whatever it takes! If I will show up for class, He will teach. Physical health is essential. Spiritual health is vital! Being spiritual healthy in this world is a miracle.

Every Moment Miracles. Too often I look for a miracle by my definition and miss so many other miracles. I asked God to heal my son of a cancer that has less than a 25% chance of surviving a year. He lived five years. There were many miracles. Less side effects. He participated in a national indoor guard competition (took 3^rd place!). I can’t speak for all the ways that God used him to impact his peers but I know there are people in the Kingdom because of his witness. Those are miracles! Salvation is the best miracle! It means an eternal life!

James used to laugh and say it was a miracle when we got a parking spot close to the door at Wal-mart. Have you ever had a budget tight week and found that God gave you a menu plan that brought you in under budget? I have. We’ve done a week’s meals on $50 or less. That is a miracle!

Sunshine for a wedding day when rain was predicted. Laughter and joy abounding when rain came any way! Family together with unity and encouragement is always a miracle and is certainly worth praise and thanksgiving.

Let’s ask God to give us eyes to see His many miracles today. And then take time at the end of the day and give thanks for those miracles.