Devotional - June 22, 2004

Helen Keller was born normal and lived that way for a few many years until an illness made her deaf and dumb. Later a teacher named Anne Sullivan performed an amazing feat when she was able to communicate with the young Keller. However, Helen was never able to hear or speak in her lifetime. In 1957 a drama/play named “The Miracle Worker” was first performed portraying the success of Anne communicating with Helen as a child. That was amazing, but what Paul and the lame man of Lystra illustrate is a "real" miracle.

Faith healing has amazed people for ages. I'm not speaking of what's promoted on television that seems to always be associated with money. Instead I speak of an occasion when someone makes a decision to believe what they've heard in God's word and then act on what they believe to be true. Then they are suddenly and miraculously healed. Miracles are good, but Lystra proves that there are certain things associated with miracles that might make some "miracle" workers stay home.

Look at what the lame man did: 1) He had an obvious need, 2) he heard God's word, 3) he listened to it carefully, 4) he believed it (trust) and 5) he acted on it (faith). What did Paul to "perform" the miracle? 1) He spoke the word, 2) to someone who would listen, 3) with needs-based preaching, 4) encouraging him to prove his faith and 5) making certain he knew it was God who did it and 6) then he moved on without claiming credit.

Nothing gets our attention like a good miracle. As Christians, don't we look for any opportunity to be used by God to do something big? People in need are always looking for a sign from God. In fact, signs and wonders typified the first century church because of two factors: First, it proved God was real (authentication) and secondly, it proved who it was who spoke for God (validation).

From our story we also learn that Satan gets involved when God is at work. Yes, he's looking for miracles too. In fact, he wants to convince everyone who sees a miracle that the miracle-worker is worthy of praise as much as God. That, my friend is a dangerous position for a person to be.

You see, Paul was rewarded for "his" miracle. He was beaten up and thrown out of town as a result of lies spread by those who said they were acting on behalf of God. He tried to defend himself, but no one was interested in hearing the truth. And those who did such a dastardly thing were said to be acting on God's behalf.

Perhaps that's why this generation has such a hard time embracing the Gospel. The world hears a different spin on God's word from people who claim to speak on God's behalf. They then discount everything they hear, including the truth. There is something to be said for TMI (Too Much Information) isn't there?

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( 2 Ki. 3:1-4:17 Ac. 14:8-28 Ps. 140:1-13 Pr. 17:22 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society