June 28 - Extraordinary Miracles

Do you believe in miracles? How about extraordinary miracles? Some Christians do not believe in miracles, let alone extraordinary miracles. In today’s reading, we see two very extraordinary miracles that some of us may have a hard time to accept. The first one is the miracle of resurrection, not through prayer or the laying on of hands but by the dead body touching the bones of the prophet Elisha. We have seen miracles of resurrection through prayer, the laying on of hands, a live person falling on the dead person and so on. But this is the first time to see a miracle of resurrection simply by throwing the dead body over another dead body.

Another set of extraordinary miracles was done by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. Paul did not have to be there for these miracles to take place. Just by the use of his handkerchiefs and aprons was enough to see people healed and evil spirits expelled. Today, when we hear that ministers sell prayer handkerchiefs or prayer aprons, we look at it with suspect. But in the time of Paul, these extraordinary miracles did happen.

If we cannot accept ordinary miracles, how can we accept extraordinary ones? All of us recognize that God can do it, but in actual fact, we doubt whether that is possible in this day and age. Theologians can come up with reasons why God is not doing miracles or extraordinary miracles today. It was the same with the people of the first century. They never could have imagined such miracles in their time but when they happened, they had to face them. There is only one conclusion: God can do anything He wants, even without our permission!

God is supernatural, anything He does is supernatural and miraculous. When He acts, it is always in the form of miracles. Sometimes, the miracles are extraordinary in the ways that we have never expected. When miracles happen, we are all excited because they are the signs of God’s presence and work. Without God, we can only do what we can do, but with Him, much greater things could happen. Do you need a miracle in your life? Do you desire God’s participation in your daily affairs? Do you want to see extraordinary miracles?

The first thing you need to do is to believe and leave the rest to God. You cannot dictate how miracles should come about and you cannot tell God what to do. He has absolute sovereignty in all things and we must honor that. We all need miracles in our lives but our unbelieving hearts and our desire to control circumstances could get in the way. Pray now and confess your unbelief in extraordinary miracles. Tell God that you welcome any work from His hands. Wait for extraordinary miracles!