FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22
Exodus 4:1-9
John 20:30-31

With Christ, life is an endless hope.

WHY MIRACLES AND SIGNS?

Miracles, signs and wonders – the acts of God are not for curiosity or entertainment, but for a divine purpose. The “Holy Spirit Renewal” and Charismatic groups claim “miracles, signs and wonders” in great profusion, some of them bizarre and insulting to the intelligence. The question we must answer is, “What is the purpose of miracles?”

When God empowered a man to perform miracles, it was for the primary purpose of authenticating his ministry. Moses, the first miracle-worker, was called by God to deliver His people from Egypt. Moses expressed genuine fears (Exod 4:1). God gave him wonder-working powers to convince Hebrews and Egyptians alike.

Our Lord came on the Judaean scene, a stranger from Galilee. How were His people to recognize Him as the Messiah sent from God? By mighty miracles He established His divine authority and credentials. Our Lord’s feeding the thousands of needy folks and His healing ministry were not meant to bring compassionate relief or to gather popular support. The primary purpose was to prove that Jesus was the Son of God. Read John 20:31 which states this clearly. The same principle applies to the acts of the Apostles. They had been sent forth to continue the Lord’s work and do greater works in the building up of the church. They had a message from the Lord, but who would believe them?

It was vital that their authority be firmly established, for Christ’s Church was to be built “upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets” (Eph 2:20). To this Apostolic band our Lord gave signs and wonders by which their status and authority were fully confirmed. Paul calls miracles “the signs of an apostle” (2 Cor 12:12). These signs identified the Apostles as special instruments of divine revelation, authoritative spokesmen for God and authors of Holy Scripture. Miracles and signs served the higher purpose of God.

THOUGHT: Are there Apostles in the church today?
PRAYER: Lord, grant me power always to glorify Thy name.