Miracles Cause Belief

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

MIRACLES CAUSE BELIEF

1 Cor 12:27-31

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

And now I will show you the most excellent way.

NIV

We have already considered this gift of workers of miracles, however, it is still a wonder as to what would be considered a miracle. How would we define what a miracle looks like? The Greek word has the meaning of strength, power, and ability. It is used in the sense of an inherent power residing in a thing or person by virtue of its nature. Because this is a gift of the Spirit we would then have to believe and conclude the residing power, the inherent power is by the virtue of the nature of the Spirit and He is God. So then a worker of miracles of a person who the Spirit manifests his residing power in would be doing things unnatural to human abilities. This would eliminate many things in this world, such as these strong men who can lift enormous amounts of weight way beyond normal people. It is would eliminate many scientific or medical discoveries coming from the mind of man that could appear to be miraculous. This gift of working miracles would have to be some supernatural happening, much like when Jesus took two fish and five loaves and feed thousands, that was a miracle because it could not be done in the natural realm. We are not sure if we have ever witnessed a miracle in our lifetime of that magnitude. However, does that mean this gift has become null and void? We do not think so. Still, the Spirit does not force his gifts upon people, although how and when and through who He manifests them are at His determination. However, we believe we still need to be open to His influence on and in our lives. It would be the same as if we did not believe in God and did not believe we need to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then God will not give us eternal life. So then, if we do not believe in these gifts, like this one of working of miracles, then the Spirit will not give us this gift, or manifest miracles through us. In essence, we would be squelching the Spirit and we are told not to do that. Still, it is not everyone who would be used in this manner, as Paul makes it clear, that not all are workers of miracles, but that would also mean that some are, or should be. We may not be one of those used by the Spirit to work miracles, but we should still be open to being used as He sees fit. If he decides to use us in this way, then the world watch this, it just might cause you to believe. It would seem that would be the main reason for the Spirit to manifest a miracle through us today so that some might believe.