"Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgements he uttered, O offspring of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob his chosen ones!" ( Psalm 105:5 )
It's both - Israel was not just to remember the miracles God did, but also the judgements he uttered. Both were considered his "wondrous works," and the first verses of this Psalm indicate the people were to be thankful for all of these "wondrous works" and praise God for them. Most of the time it seems we're quick to recall the miracles, not so much the judgements.
This applies to us in Christ's Church today as we thank him for the miracles he has done in our lives, and the judgement that will take place when Jesus Christ comes in all of his glory to judge the living and the dead, to judge the hearts of men. ( 2 Timothy 4:1, Romans 14:10, Matthew 25:31-46 ) As we recite in the Apostle's Creed.
When we recall or pray for miracles, I believe we forget the greatest. Or maybe we just don't realize the blessing in the first place. Today I'm thanking God for a particular miracle we see in the Scriptures that I've overlooked and taken for granted.
Last night before bed I was reading this text, and it came alive to me in a way it hasn't before: "Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls." ( James 1:21 )
The "implanted" word, meaning it has been planted in us - We didn't put it there, but it was put inside of us. When? and by Whom?
In the Book of Jeremiah God speaks of the New Covenant to come: "I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." ( Jeremiah 31: 33-34 )
God promises to put his Word in us at the new birth. Listen to this:
"For thus says the Lord God, 'Behold I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness." ( Ezekiel 34:11-12 ) ( John 10:11,14 )
And to rescue us. One more:
"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all of your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statues and be careful to obey my rules." ( Ezekiel 36:25-27 )
The KJV uses the word "engrafted," the Greek word "emphutos" meaning "implanted by nature or by others instruction" and "inborn" - my mind goes to Jesus telling Nicodemus that in order to see the kingdom of God one must be "born again."
So we see the greatest miracle of all toward us is the one accomplished in the human heart at conversion in the regeneration of that sinful heart, separated from God, now by the power of the Holy Spirit granted repentance and given faith to believe and trust in Christ alone for our salvation because of His atoning sacrifice for our sins and God's sovereign grace. ( Ephesians 1, Romans 5:8 )
God removes our filthy garments and applies the work of Christ to us, thus replacing our dirty rags by clothing us with His Son's righteousness, supernaturally changing our hearts in a supernatural, inward change and not just an outward mopping up of our mess.
And not only does he "implant" his Word in us, but He promises in the above verse in Ezekiel to help us obey it by his power, not ours.
Did you ever "wonder" why you have this hunger for God's Word? Not just to do a surface level reading to check off a box, but to read the Bible with the goal of understanding it? And obeying it because of the grace he has shed upon us? Well, that's a "wondrous work" wrought inside of you at your salvation. God puts his Spirit and his Word in each of us.
Hold on to that. Remember that truth because it's a promise in his Word, and God faithfully brings all of his covenant promises to pass. Isn't that Good News? I love this.
Feast on that miracle and his Word today.
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"The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart ( that is the word of faith that we proclaim ); because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." ( Romans 10:8-9 )
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as the only Son from the Father full of grace and truth." ( John 1:14 )
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