A friend asked me to share what are the different miracles I have witness in my personal walk with Jesus Christ. That discussion made me realize what is the most important of all.
What is the most important miracle of all in my life?
Look at my own life: started out as a scared frustrated lonely boy in college, pessimistic, lacking hope and purpose.
After the touch of the Master, I stand today hopeful, joyful, compassionate, willing to help anyone in need with readiness, and often without asking; doing everything with consideration for others.
Who I have become is the biggest miracle in my life.
Jesus's most important miracle is not what he can do to objects, such as moving inanimate mountains, walking on water or other supernatural acts; nor is it about curing diseases and raising the dead. The most impressive is that He turns sinners to repentance, giving them a full life. His impact on the 12 disciples, turning ordinary men into extraordinary leaders, who in time perform miracles themselves. God is glorified far more, not by His miraculous acts, but by our reflection of His likeness, of what He has accomplished in us, turning weaklings and losers into the mightiest spiritual warriors that the world will ever know.
What are some of miracles I witnessed in my life?
I have spoken about the different stages of my relationship with God.
First, when I feel that I have all that the world can provide, (knowledge, fame, ability), I was desperately seeking truth and meaning to life. Through the receiving of the Gospel, my spiritual eyes were opened: just as scales fall off Paul's eyes, an imagery of avalanche occured in the frozen mountain of intellectual doubt and resistence to God's truth.
Then, the alarm series as interacting with a friend: Just as I trust a friend to wake me up gently (caring for the condition of my post retinal surgery eyes), so God has waken me up for a whole year on each Sunday consistently in the span of 10 minutes, never using an alarm, and going to bed the night before in wildly varying schedule due to my Christian and evangelism activities on college campus. This provided enough evidence for me to trust God, even on the night before my sister's graduation: after staying up to 4 AM talking with friends about the Gospel, I decided confidently to trust God to wake me up (rather than to rely on an alarm, or phone calls from other earthly friends) 2 hours later in order to take a bus to 60 miles away to catch my sister's 10AM graduation.
Next, I look to Him as a mentor, listen to Him whether I like it or not. For example, during my personal struggle over the medical insurance precondition issue, right before my follow-up retinal surgery to release the buckel of my original retinal detachment surgery. Deciding whether to tell the truth, or lie about my precondition (which would cost me dearly financially), God comes through after I decided to commit to Him and tell the truth no matter the consequence: turns out that the insurance policy was updated a month before (but not yet publicized) to allow preconditions.
Like a servant to a master, doing the right thing whether it benefits me materialistically or not: example: Book store bonus instances. 2 separate instances where I was given $20 extra during my return of books, and I decided to decline this erroneous benefit, with very clear sense that they are cases to tempt me explicitly. Then at one time, when I was wondering with God over the issue of petty rewards, the book store was having a chance drawing, and before I picked up the raffle, I feel the inside voice asking: "Is it rewards that you really after?" And I got a 50% coupon, one of the rarest raffles, applying to my expensive purchase. At that moment, though one would normally be overjoyed,
I feel chilled as I sense God's presence and power, and humbly answer Him that without His presence and approval, no reward can give me true satisfaction.
Then, as a close personal friend: The situation with J----, my heart rate was controled: God is a close friend who cares for me so much, even down to control of every cell of my body. With my recent experience of passionate feeling, I realize that is an indication of how much God loves me.
Next, in my relationship with J--- (note the different number of dashes) allow me to identify with Solomon: when I decided to devote my time to pursue Him rather than girls, God pays me back with everything that I'd seeked in a girl, more than my time would have otherwise achieved, with a wife who is in every aspect to my delight, everything that I ever dreamed of.
Now, an illustration: after my recent reading of Eldredge, and engaging in personal spiritual battle, I realize my role of leadership in the family, and take the initiative to pray for my wife and improve my relationship with J--- in a time of crisis. I pray against evil spirits who attack my wife and children, as in removing weeds in a spiritual garden. Miraculously, God has been preparing J---'s heart at the same time.
Focus: me vs God
When focus on myself: what I should do, what is my place, my role, my contribution. It is easy to get into theoretical arguments and frustrations
When focus on God, we naturally feel at ease with obediene, His will, etc.
Focus on Jesus, on God's love for us, on letting God love me, (as summary chapter in The Jesus I Never Knew), then my actions in response to God's love will naturally be freeing, resulting in worship, and an active life.
Summary:
3 phases in my walk:
- my own strength, strategy, and methods
- justice: eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth
- context of passion series: God is first
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