October 15: MIRACLES

Believe it:

Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:15-18

Live it:

We can learn three lessons from today’s text.
1. Jesus still works miracles. A very common characteristic in the New Testament church was that miracles and preaching went together. Preaching has continued, but where are the miracles? Does Jesus still work miracles? The answer is a resounding “YES!”
2. Jesus works miracles using us as instruments. Perhaps we’ll never understand why a perfect, holy, and infallible God chooses to use sinful, fallible, imperfect people like you and me. Why does He do it? We don’t know why, but we do know that He does. If you let Him use you, God can work miracles through you.
3. Conversion is the greatest miracle. Think of all the miracles Jesus did while He was on earth. All those people that He healed and even resurrected—every one of them—ended up dying eventually. When we think of miracles, many think of a blind person recovering sight or a paraplegic that starts to walk. I propose to you that the greatest miracle of all is the conversion of a human being. It has an eternal effect. Anyone who might doubt the fact that miracles exist needs only to get to know a transformed Christian, and he’ll quickly recognize the efficacy of God’s power.

Share it:

Ask God to send you someone you can share your conversion story with. Start with your family.

My prayer today: for those who have decided to be baptized, but face complications.

-Pray that God will give them the strength to go forward with their decision.

-Pray that God will resolve anything that stands in the way of going through with their decision.

from God’s City, My City