Luke 5:1-26; Ezekiel 48; Isaiah 66

“And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, ‘We have seen strange things today!’” (Luke 5:26 NKJV)

One day Jesus was teaching. Then, the crowds started coming for healing. Luke even notes that Pharisees and teachers of the law were there and that the power of God was present to heal them. One group of friends brought one of their posse to Jesus, but they had a problem. He was paralyzied and they couldn’t make it through the crowds to get him to Jesus, so they climbed up on the roof and let him down in front of Jesus through the hole they made in the roof. Jesus started off by forgiving his sins, which made those religious leaders mad, then He said, “and to prove that I can forgive sins, I’m gonna heal this guy now.” (He used different words, of course.) So, the guy was healed and walked out of there. It was at this point that we see the people amazed, glorifying God, and being filled with fear. This is also when they said, “We have seen strange things today!” 

How’s your year been? Many people think back over the past year in the days leading up to the new year and think about all that’s happened. Did you see any “strange things?” Did you see God working in your life, or in the lives of others? Think about how God worked in your life this past year and celebrate all those strange things. My prayer for you this year is that it be filled with “strange things” that you can only explain as the power of God working in you. As you see God working, be amazed and glorify God for the “strange things” He’s done for you. Make sure you share His love and grace so that others can see “strange things” also. 

Lord, thank You for all the strange things I’ve seen this past year as You’ve worked in the lives of friends and strangers. I pray for strange things to keep happening, for You to work in this world in ways that those who deny Your existence today will recognize Your power and praise You. Draw people to Yourself through Your goodness, love, and miracles.