Just what "is" a miracle? How do you recognize an event as a miracle from God? God said through the prophet Isaiah, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned. For I the Lord your God have called you by name and you are mine." Yet life is hard sometimes. There are times in our lives when we need divine intervention. We need a miracle. Miracles are happening all around us. If we could only see them, we could let Jesus transform our life. Come and discover how to ask God for a miracle and how to respond when you see one. God is waiting for you to know him. And to trust that he is creating "Miracles, Just Ahead".
Jesus is Lord of all things, not just some things. Remembering this can help us keep life's struggles in perspective. As Dutch theologian Abraham Kyper put it, "There is not one inch of the world that Christ does not claim, saying, 'That is mine.'"
Suffering for the Christian faith, in various forms, is inevitable. Persecution happens because of who people are, not what they do, so even though Christians may sometimes act stupidly, we don't "have it coming" because of the actions of some. Jesus warns us that, just as he was persecuted, we will be persecuted for our faith, even in a comparatively protected country like the U.S.
Jesus was tempted in the wilderness but did not give in to temptation. Still, he understands our temptations in a very personal way. He calls us to resist temptation, but he also forgives when we fall short, urging us to do better next time.
Jesus does not owe the temple tax because he is the son of God. He does not owe a death because he is the son of God. Jesus pays the price of the temple tax with a coin. Jesus pays for our salvation with his life. In both cases he pays a debt he does not owe for others who owe a debt they cannot pay. Jesus. chooses to work through us not because that is the easiest way to get things done, because it is not, but because he wants to work in us.
Contrary to common imagery, St. Peter does not determine who passes through the Pearly Gates of Heaven. Peter may have the keys, but so can we: the knowledge of who Jesus truly is. If we can describe the truth about Jesus, we can extend love and grace to a hurting world, and that changes everything. But if we cannot describe the truth about Jesus, that he truly is the Son of the living God, we have the keys to nothing.
Wrestling with God and with issues of faith will change us. However difficult, it is important to engage in that struggle, and God stands ready to meet us.
