Ever wondered why kids are attracted to sparkling candles
more than lit candles on a birthday cake? God not only shines but also sparkles
like those candles. His mysterious supernatural signs and wonders and miracles
are divine sparklers. I dare to ask God to not only shine but to show signs and
wonders. Recently Ed and I were
awestruck by one of his sparklers. So
was the Muslim young lady it was meant for. We were strangers to each other but
by God’s design we came together. In
about an hour’s time, in our living room, God produced a sign that rendered her
shocked and speechless. We read Scripture and prayed after that to help her
understand how God is the Master Designer of our lives. We are praying that the
sign and wonder shown will now lead her on to discovering Jesus Christ. Like Mary hearing the shepherds’ amazing story
we are left to ponder over and store the sparkling mysteries in our hearts. They have a way of endorsing and confirming
Jesus to us.
Some Muslims are coming to Jesus Christ through amazing
dreams and visions of Jesus or by experiencing a miracle, sign or wonder. I once heard of a Muslim man being told in a
dream to call an unknown phone number which he did. It happened to be the
number of a stranger who was a Christian. By the end of his phone call he gave
his heart to Jesus! A Somali man got
bored on the internet and went to sleep.
He was instructed by the Spirit of God to get up and google in Nolosha
Cusub(Voice of New Life)which he had never heard of. He did and found salvation in Christ. A Muslim woman rose above her fear of reading
the Word of God and discovered Whom salvation is found in. The Spirit opened her eyes and gave her
saving faith. Believe me, that is a huge
miracle – especially for a Muslim without having an accompanying dream or
healing.
Sparklers of God’s glory may accompany pregnancy, a birth, take
place in ministry, in sickness, and in dying. Even our suffering can become a
means of showing a sign or wonder to others much like Jesus’ death on the cross
was a sign to the captain of the Roman executioners in Luke 23:47. What did the
captain see that convinced him that Jesus was innocent? Muslims love to hear about the miracles, signs
and wonders that Jesus performed. How I
love to make much of Him. I might say to my Muslim friend, “Fatima, would you like to hear about a
miracle Jesus performed?” Signs and
wonders and miracles God has performed in my own life are also shared. But above all I stress that Jesus is the
biggest miracle, sign and wonder – greater than every prophet, book, dream, or
healing. He sparkles in glory and transcendence. Ministry is more than
travelling, fund raising, visiting, training, corresponding, strategy and
vision casting, and reporting. That sounds mundane to me. So, I plead: Shine, Jesus, shine – and keep
sparkling!
Dear heavenly Father, please let Your glory sparkle in my
life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
