Signs, Wonders, Miracles, and Gifts?

Don't drift away.
Kayaking on the Columbia River.

Prayer – Lord, You have provided so much…and there are people out there trying to draw us away…to make us drift away from You. But You are the Truth, The Way, and the Life. Keep me on steady ground—Your teachings. Shower me with Your miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit that I can show and share Your love with others. 

So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose. Hebrews 2:1-4 NLT

 

Meditate. Consider the warning of not drifting or falling away.

 

Jesus said for His followers to be prepared and to not be deceived or fall away. In His parable about the Sower, seeds of the Good News or the Kingdom of God or Heaven are planted in a person’s heart and how those are received in their life. Read this parable in Matthew 13:3-9 and see the explanation in verses18-23. Similar passages are found in Mark 4:3-8 and in Luke 8:5-8.

But since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word. Matthew 13:21 NLT

Don’t fall away…or even just walk away from Jesus’ teachings. Take it to heart and let His words sink into you, guiding your thoughts and your life. Peter gave the Christian followers—brothers and sisters and us as we read this today—some good instructions. Work hard.  

So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 2 Peter 1:10 NLT

Work hard. What are you doing with God’s word? Are you seeking to understand it—do you routinely discuss it with others? Are you joyful in hearing and learning God’s directives? Or are you letting the worries of the world overwhelm you? Is God’s teaching temporary in your life…or are you making God’s way your own way—following His guidance and going down His path?  Are you applying Jesus’ teaching to your life? Are you bearing fruit as Jesus spoke about in His Sower’s parable (Matthew 13:23) and growing in the Fruit of the Spirit as described in Galatians 5:22-23? Do you look for signs, wonders, miracles, and spiritual gifts in your life?

 

Verse of Salvation ~ And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 1 Peter 1:5 NLT

 

© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

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