But the apostles [Paul & Barnabas] stayed there [in Iconium] a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders. [Acts 14.3]
Paul and Barnabas were preaching about Jesus - about God's grace given to all who believe. God verified the message by giving them power to do miracles.
At what point I wonder was their message sufficient to warrant such miracles? How convinced did Paul and Barnabas have to be themselves in order for the miraculous to be present? How sold-out to the cause were Paul and Barnabas? How much were they in the Word (as they knew it)? How often did they pray? What exactly WAS their level of commitment?
What really bugs me today is not so much that miracles are not the norm for Christians as much as that we have concocted a religious excuse that it is somehow God Who changed and not us.
What gives any living human being the right to say their devotion to God is sufficient therefore God must no longer be holding up His end of the deal? How can any true believer say, "I am not the problem?"
Father, I take full responsibility for the general miracle-less state of my life. However, I want to grow in my devotion to You. Do what You want to do with that.
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