Today's Passage - Luke 23:8-12

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Luke 23:8-12   When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle.  He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.  The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him.  Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.  That day Herod and Pilate became friends--before this they had been enemies.   When Jesus was sent to see King Herod, Herod already heard about what Jesus had done.  He heard that Jesus was a powerful rabbi who could interpret the Bible and perform miracles, so Herod wanted to see Jesus perform a miracle.  In other word, just ONE miracle would have been sufficient.  Jesus, however, didn't perform any miracle, and didn't even say a word.  Clearly, Jesus knew that miracles cannot save our soul.  Today, many people want to see miracles, and some even say that they will believe if they see a miracle; the fact is that after they actually see a miracle, they will use all kinds of explanations to rationalize it, and still won't believe.   Miracle itself cannot save our soul; miracles are, nevertheless, God's tool to draw our heart closer to God, because it helps us to understand God's love and compassion.  There is no need to elevate the importance of miracles, and but there's also no need to reject miracles.  When God's Spirit is working, miracles will naturally come forth.  You and I will still need to decide whether we want to trust God or depend on our own intelligence and talent.   Herod met Jesus, but his heart wasn't prepared to welcome Jesus, so He still had a lost soul.  Is your heart eager to see Jesus?  If your heart is eager, your eyes will see miracles.  The truth is that the greatest miracle is not physical healing, but how life is changed after one accepts the Lord.  People's eyesight, however, are often distorted by rationality and erroneous expectation, and could miss the miracles.  It is interesting note here that Herod and Pilate were supposed to be enemies, but they became friends because of Jesus.  When Jesus Christ came, He wanted people to reconcile with God, and He also came to have people reconcile with each other.  Even when He was able to be nailed on the cross, He was still a peacemaker.   In your life, do you have enemies in your heart?  Are you willing to bring him or her before the Lord, and let the Lord's love once again fill your heart?  If the Lord wanted people to reconcile even when He was about to die, it is obvious His will now.  May God give us more strength, help us to better understand the Lord's will and to follow it.    Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I thank you because your Spirit will move among us right now, to release us and heal us.  Let us not just focus our eyes on the miracles themselves, but to focus on you, the great shepherd who loves us and died for us.  May your Holy Spirit move within my heart and bring forth renewed power.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!