Mission and Miracles

Christians sometimes debate what a miracle is. Many might say that a miracle is something that is an extra-ordinary event, outside the boundaries explainable by science. Others might counter that a miracle is an act of God that man cannot understand. Still others (my personal favorite) will say, “They are hard to define, but I know one when I see one!”

Some have argued that God’s purpose in performing miracles is to bring someone to faith.

 

Each year our church participates in the Samaritan’s Purse program that sends Christmas packages to children in underdeveloped countries. Brenda, my wife, participates and we spend perhaps $50 – no big deal from our perspective. Yet from the receiver’s perspective, a person who may have difficulty getting food every day, such a package might very well appear to be a miracle.

 
Since God works though Christians, such a gift is from God. Further, such a gift could bring someone to faith. Perhaps the receiver is correct and my nonchalant attitude is wrong! God works at least some of his miracles through people and congregations.

 

Today’s reading, Acts 19:11-20, is about miracles. From the reading, we know that God worked miracles through Paul. We also know that many people came to faith because of the miracles performed in Ephesus.

Sceva’s sons tried to perform miracles for their own personal gain. These sons are probably among the false prophets that John warns us about in 1 John 2:18-23, 4:1-6. These false prophets, or antichrists, try to keep people from knowing Jesus.

 

The Samaritan’s Purse example is one of a mission occurring overseas. Yet the people John warns us about exist in our country today. They are in some of our spiritual centers, our politics and our media. The world is trying to keep people from knowing Jesus.

 

What can we do about these false prophets? We can’t stop them from doing their thing. But we can counter them by bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to our community.

 

The mission field is not just overseas, but it is also here! We can do miracles here!