EXAMPLES NOT EXCEPTIONS.
As I shared in last week’s DEVOTIONAL, this is what I’ve been thinking about as of late. Well, I’ve been thinking about a lot of things, but this idea ‘EXAMPLES NOT EXCEPTIONS’ has been occupying more and more of my thoughts recently.
Like you, I want to experience and encounter God as He is. Meaning, I don’t want to settle for a walk with God that is something far less than what God created me for. I want ALL followers of Jesus to experience the FULLNESS of what Jesus intended when He said, “Come, follow me.” (Matthew 4:19 | NLT)
When I first started reading the Bible seriously, I remember thinking to myself, “When do I get to do THAT?” And of course, the ‘THAT’ was… walking on water, or healing someone who was sick, or feeding a really large crowd of people with very limited supplies. Basically, what I wanted to know was at what point would I be mature enough to be part of the ‘crazy miracles’?
Well, I’ve never walked on water. I’ve tried, but I sank super quick.
When people have come to my place for a cookout and the brats and burgers are gone, I’ve never seen a miraculous multiplication of food. I run out to BJ’s to get more food, but I don’t count that as miraculous multiplication.
And as best as I can tell, I’ve never healed anyone. Meaning, my direct prayers have never instantaneously healed someone of their cancer, or their blindness, or paralysis. I’m pretty sure my prayers brought encouragement (at least I hope they have), but I’m not sure they’ve ever brought ‘physical’ healing.
So, what’s wrong with me? What am I missing? So many of those ‘types’ of miracles happened in the Bible… Jesus did these things… His followers did these things, so what am I missing?
IMPORTANT QUESTION(S)
What am I looking for? Better stated, WHO am I looking for?
If I am just looking for or wanting to see the crazy cool miracles (however that’s defined), well, I’ll miss seeing God. And I say that because looking for the things of God is NOT the same thing as looking to see God.
I’m extremely thankful for the myriads of miracles chronicled in the Scriptures, but all of those miracles were intended to point to Someone greater. Miracles are great… but miracles void of seeing, knowing, experiencing, and encountering the Miracle Maker would be a massive miss.
ASK THIS QUESTION
“God, how might I see you in this moment?”
When going to the grocery store…
When headed in to work…
When walking into the gym…
When on a run…
When entering into a breakfast, lunch, or dinner meeting…
That is the question I ask… not always, but I try.
And with that question, I’m NOT asking to see miracles in those moments, rather, I’m asking to see God in those moments. And you know what’s really cool (terrible word to describe this), but in asking that question, the LORD is helping me NOT to miss Him in the moment He has me in.
THE GOOD NEWS
God wants you and I to see Him.
God wants you and I to experience Him.
God wants you and I to encounter Him.
Miracles are great, but greater than miracles is the one who has the testimony of seeing God in the many moments that make up any given day.
