December 11, 2025 - 1 John 4-5

In reading the Bible, we often come across stories of miracles and miracle workers.  An interesting quote I read, from a pastor in India, was, “Miracles are common here in India.”  Well, now!   Something about that statement seems amiss.  Miracles that are common, everyday occurrences?  Maybe he meant that, relatively speaking, they see more miracles in India than, say, Europe or North America.  But common and frequent?  Miracles by their very nature are uncommon.  They are extraordinary.  They show God supernaturally and specially breaking into history to do something, well, miraculous. 

John begins chapter four with the counsel, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (4:1).  Now, obviously, John is not writing about miracles here; rather, about those who provide false testimonies and teaching about Jesus.  But there does seem to be a broad principle in play here, that is, be very careful that examine everything in the light of God's Word and test whether or not what you are seeing and hearing – whether teaching, a doctrine, a miracle, etc. – is truly from God.  That’s a good piece of advice, especially in our day when so many are claiming to speak directly from God.

Thanks to God whose Word Incarnate

heights and depths of life did share.

Deeds and words and death and rising,

grace in human form declare.

God has spoken:

praise to God for the open Word.

Thanks to God whose Word was written

in the Bible’s sacred page,

record of the revelation

showing God to every age.

God has spoken:

praise to God for the open Word.   –R. T. Brooks (1954)