09/16/2019
Our transformation through faith is splendid indeed, but we must grasp hold of it, and claim it for our own. When we first accept Jesus Christ as our savior, are baptized, and the Holy Spirit comes upon us, we find that something miraculous has begun within us... in that moment we realize that we are walking miracles, and consumers of the divine nature; our longing ends for the world’s offering, and begins to be for heavenly fruit.
“by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”
2 Peter 1:4 ESV
When we are born we are fed our mother’s milk. We have transitioned from the hidden nourishment of the womb to the outward sustenance of the breast, and it is a miracle how an infant, having never fed at the teat, has such an immediate longing to suckle from it... a hunger for its mother’s milk. As new Christians it is likewise a miracle of faith how we long to taste the divine nature of God that we have just now experienced through rebirth, and have never experienced in this manner before.
“Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3-5 ESV
Then, as our faith matures another miraculous transformation begins in our diet of faith, we begin to consume the solid flesh of sacrifice... the body of Christ... and our consumption of the divine nature once again grows, and our faith becomes more than it was.
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."”
John 6:51 ESV
Many people say that God’s miracles ceased to occur long ago, but I believe that those who believe in this way are walking with their eyes closed. We are surrounded by miracles that begin before our first breath, and continue their eruption into fullness when we first breathe into ourselves the divine breath of God through Jesus Christ. Our lives having begun in the miracle of conception, our faith born of the miracle of rebirth, our consumption of the divine nature surrounding us with earthly miracles, and finally our death itself which foretells the miracle of our personal transformation into the image of Jesus as we are resurrected, transfigured, and then ascend to be with God at the return of Jesus Christ. So it is that we are born in miracle, miracles surround us every day, and we should be careful not to deny God by denying the miraculous evidence of Himself.
“knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation."”
2 Peter 3:3-4 ESV
Believing God’s promises makes us partakers of His divine nature, and His miracles give evidence to our faith of His continued presence, and provide nourishment to our belief when it requires sustenance. Remember what Jesus said to the official at Capernaum when He was asked to save his dying son? Well it held true then, it also held true for the Apostle Thomas, and it holds true for us today...
“So Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe."”
John 4:48 ESV
So are we ready to be fed the divine nature of God, trust in His precious and great promises, and have our faith reinforced through the acceptance of miracles? Are we ready to place our hand in the side of Christ? Well, grab hold of these things, and hold onto them with all your might... letting go of the sinful world behind as the divine nature carries us upward.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Holy Word, your divine nature, and the evidence you provide us each day through the miracles that surround us. Help us Father as we open our eyes to the heavenly, and begin our journey of faith, and our deliverance from sin and evil. Transform us Merciful Father and perfect us as we hasten to be like your Son Jesus, and seek after your truth as revealed in His life. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who feeds us from the womb of creation on the milk of His nature, and then leads us to consume the flesh of the Lamb... Jesus. Praised be your name for having loved us while we were yet in sin, and prepared a way for our salvation. All glory is yours Father for your mercy, but especially for the grace you have poured out on us through Jesus. Undeserving as we are, you have fed us, nourished us, provided for our needs, and encouraged our faith by your miracles. We worship you Loving Father, and long for your divine nature with our every breath.
“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”
Hebrews 2:1-4 ESV
Rich Forbes