The bible is “llendo” with extraordinary examples of God’s power. We collectively call these demonstrations, “milagros”, and all have a special purpose; to spread the Glory of God. An ordinary stick used as a tool to deliver His people from centuries of slavery, A young boy defeating a mighty giant, three loyal servants remaining unharmed in a scalding furnace, the lame walking, the blind seeing, and a man dead three days waking from his sleep. These are a just a few of the many examples of miracles we see in the bible. Sadly, I think many of us associate this word with history; as something that used to happen but no longer does. It is easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and lose sight of the modern day miracles all around us.
This past weekend UWM held its annual retreat for the missionaries of Mexico and Latin America. It was a wonderful, and exhausting, weekend spent worshipping, learning, communing and playing. Had I not spent our free hours playing ultimate frisbee or in the pool with friends maybe it would have not be as exhausting… But definitely worth. One of my favorite parts of the weekend came from cena Saturday night. I was able to talk with a married couple who have spent a number of years in the Oaxaca region of southern Mexico. We discussed the Joshua Project quite extensively. It is a website dedicated to trying to organize the evangelical efforts to spread the gospel to every people group. A task given to us by Jesus as he ascended to heaven and one in which we still have much work to do. But what I most enjoyed was being able to ask questions about their work. They happily shared some of their wisdom and stories with me.
I believe my favorite story is a powerful example of how God uses miracles still today. The couple, let’s call them the Johnsons, had organized a short term clinic to address some pressing health issues in the community. As one of the poorest areas in the entire country, the smaller cities of Oaxaca lack modern infrastructure and access to reliable health care. This area resembles a country within a country. They have their own form of government, their own culture and could speak 1 of the 16 indigenous languages. To understate things, reaching the Oaxacan people can be challenging. As there is not a bible translation in their native language, the Johnsons had planned to have an audio recording of the bible playing throughout the clinic. They were nervous. Would the community be offended by this message? Would it turn people away? Praise God, the opposite happened. Many were amazed that they were able to hear the message in their own language. To them it meant that God cared enough about them to speak directly to them as opposed to through spanish speaking translators.
However, the coolest part came later in the clinic. As part of the healing process each person would be seen by a doctor, given medical advice and intervention when necessary and then prayed for by the team of missionaries in the area. A woman had been blind for many nears. Sadly the doctors did not have the resources needed to perform a surgery so they offered advice and medication and the woman continued on to be prayed over. After the Johnsons and their team prayed for the woman she showed no expression as the Oaxacans are a stoic people. They continued on with their day, helping many people throughout the community. The woman walked home on her own that day and the missionaries found out some time later that her sight had been returned! While this amazing example of God’s healing has not yet turned this woman to Christ it did cause many of the community members to do so. Sadly, the woman returned home and offered sacrifices to a saint (Catholicism in Mexico is a whole different conversation for another time). Her story quickly spread throughout the community and many were astonished that “this” God was able to heal her without sacrifices or healings but at the simple and faithful request of his followers.
In Genesis 12 we see God calling Abram. We are able to read about the many blessings Abram will receive from God, to be made into a great nation, to bless those who bless you… But not solely for Abram, but that Abram and his descendants may be a blessing so that others may be blessed through him. The idea that we are blessed to be a blessing as stuck with me for some time now. As this story shows, God does not give us blessings or miracles for us to selfishly hoard, but instead to spread them to others so that He may be glorified in the process. How can you use the miracles of your life to spread the fame of God?