God in Action
Opening Prayer
Lord, You are the same God who healed the sick, gave sight to the blind and raised the dead. Do so in our day.
Read Luke 7:18-23
[18] John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, [19] he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” [20] When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?'” [21] At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. [22] So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. [23] Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How does Jesus legitimize his claim as Messiah?“Nice but niche”–that’s how one journalist described Christianity in the U.K. Is it true that British Christianity comfortable and closeted? And if it is true there, is it true in the U.S. or worldwide? New Testament-style miracles are reported, particularly among new Christians, in countries where churches are growing rapidly, such as South America, Africa and Asia (Christianity, May 2014). Some people think this is because Western Christians are too cynical to see God act miraculously. When John the Baptist sent his followers to find out if Jesus was the Messiah (19), Jesus used words that would have been familiar to them–they’d have known Isaiah’s prophecies foretelling miracles like these (Isa. 35:5,6; 61:1). Jesus allowed his actions to speak as well as putting the Good News into words. Later in Luke we will read how Jesus sent out his disciples to preach and heal. Has he stopped empowering and authorizing his followers in this way?
Apply
Write about this question: do I expect to see God move like I see him move in the pages of Scripture?
Closing prayer
Jesus, I want to bring Your message with the signs that clearly point to You as the source.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.