9 Oct, 2008

He lives in you ...

Everyday Miracles

Small Plane Crashes in Houston Field, Pilot Suffers Only Minor Injuries

HOUSTON — A pilot reportedly suffered only minor injuries on Wednesday when the twin-engine airplane he was flying crash landed and burned in a field in southwestern Houston. A Houston Fire Department spokeswoman did not immediately return calls for details from The Associated Press. But news reports from the scene said the man was able to walk away from the aircraft before flames enveloped it. The crash happened about 7 a.m. There was no word on what caused the accident, where the aircraft was from or where it was headed. The identity of the pilot was also not released.

Courtesy of FOX news.

Mark 16:15-18

15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Acts 28:1-10

Paul on Malta

28:1 After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. 3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8 It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him healed him. 9 And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. 10 They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed. (ESV)

Look at the authority and encouragement Jesus gives us! In Mark 16, Jesus challenges us to spread His gospel to the whole creation. Jesus says that you'll recognize one of His followers as someone who lives with power ... even the ability to heal the sick!

Paul tapped into this power. It wasn't Paul's own power, but the authority of Jesus working through him.

In Acts 28, we see Paul on the island of Malta with a group of people who had never heard the gospel of Jesus. A snake attacked Paul's hand as he was building a fire. This scared the people, who were sure that Paul would die. However, Paul - filled with the Holy Spirit - was able to shake the snake and continue His ministry unharmed. He followed that miracle by healing an island leader's sick father. Many people came to experience Paul's healing power.

The reality is this: It wasn't Paul's healing power at all. It was Paul's abiding connection with Jesus that gave Him power and authority to do these miraculous works.
Sometimes we underestimate the power of God working through us. If you have an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ, then you have been given great power in ministry. Don't forget that!
  • Pray that God would work in new ways IN and THROUGH you. Open your life to Jesus Christ and allow Him to use you like Paul.
  • Look around you. Who needs a healing touch? Go and pray for them - today!
  • Proclaim the gospel with boldness. Christ commands us to do this.
The man in the news reportedly escaped a plane crash unharmed. What a miracle! Paul in the Bible also escaped a life threatening situation. Jesus' words remind us that He wants to work miracles IN and THROUGH us every day. He wants us to be "walking miracle workers" of the gospel of Jesus.

As you consider how you love your friends who don't know Jesus ...
  • Offer to pray for a friend who isn't feeling well - physically or emotionally. Pray with them!
  • Start a conversation with your friends who don't know Jesus. Ask: Does God still work miracles today?
  • Seek out a conversation with your Christian friends.
    Ask: Are you living and walking in the power of Jesus today, or are you going through the motions?
  • Find an accountability partner... someone who will ask you each day about your walk with Christ. Allow this person to challenge you into a consistent relationship with Jesus.

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The Daily Bide is brought to you by a team of writers from Youth for Christ/USA. The writers all have various years of experience in youth ministry but share a common bond in serving Jesus and discovering what it means to abide deeply everyday and to connect God's Story with those around them. A number of the Daily Bide writers have also written portions of our 3Story® resources. You can check out our resources at the 3Story.org website or connect with our writers at 3story@yfc.net. If you have a question or a story you would like to share, please reference the Daily Bide date in your email.

YFC works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.