prelude to a miracle

The Word for today:
2 Chronicles 17, 18

mark this:  2 Chronicles 17:7-9
In the third year of his reign he sent his leaders to teach in the cities of Judah. And with them he sent Levites and priests. So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people.


One of my favorite Bible passages is just around the corner.  A great miracle awaits us when we get to chapter 20.

But miracles have a pre-requisite.  Read the passage below to find out what must come before a miracle can occur:
Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor." And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.   (Matthew 13:54-58)

Before a miracle can unfold, there must be faith.  Don't ask me why or how it works out that way.  All I know is that when the people had little faith, Jesus did few miracles.  It's as simple as that.

How, then, can we gain faith?  The Bible has the answer:
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  (Romans 10:17)

The way to increase our faith is to immerse ourselves in scripture--to "Stand in the Rain!"  And that's exactly what happened during the reign of the great King Jehoshaphat:
In the third year of his reign he sent his leaders to teach in the cities of Judah.  And with them he sent Levites and priests.  So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people.  (see 2 Chronicles 17:7-9)

King Jehoshaphat started a great big national Bible-reading program! So by the time the people get to chapter 20, their faith has prepared them for the miracle that we will witness tomorrow.

So be sure you've caught up to your Bible schedule.  We wouldn't want you to miss out on a miracle!