John 12:37 (NLT) But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him.

Most Christians who are serious about following Christ and living a life worthy of the call on their lives desire to have more faith. Many also think that if they can see God do a miracle, their faith would automatically increase. I am sure that many of us have experienced miracles in our lives, but perhaps not the jaw-dropping type as when Jesus told the man with a shriveled hand to stretch it out and when the man did, it became normal right before everyone's eyes (Matthew 12:13). Then there was the time that He healed the man who had been paralyzed who was able to get to Jesus because his friends lowered him on a mat from the roof of the packed house where Jesus was teaching. He told the man to get up, pick up his mat and go home (Mark 2:11). That was amazing. But nothing can beat the time when He raised Lazarus from the dead even though he had been dead for four days! These are astounding miracles that no one can attribute to anything or anyone else but Jesus. Many think that if they could see a miracle like that, then their faith would be so much bigger that the proverbial mustard seed. Or perhaps those who aren't sure about Jesus being who He said He was think that they would believe if they could witness a great miracle. Surprisingly, this is not so.

The people in the verse of scripture above not only did see Jesus performing many miracles, but a good number of them had either seen or heard about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, since it had just happened. Lazarus was fully alive and well for all to see. Yet, MOST did not believe. As human beings, we have a serious issue, and that issue is our fallen nature. Our fallen nature leads us to believe in things that are false and to disbelieve or doubt the things that are true. Even as Christians, it is hard for us to believe that Jesus still intervenes in our lives and that He is a living God who we can have real fellowship with. Many live with Jesus as a concept or a figure in the Bible and not as the Lord and Savior who dwells in us. Seeing miracles won't increase our faith, just as unbelievers witnessing a miracle won't get them saved. History has proven this phenomenon. But what will increase our faith is spending quality time with Jesus in prayer and through prayerfully reading His Word. As you spend time in fellowship with Him, that is when your faith grows. The more that you know Him, the more faith you have. If you don't know Jesus, then being exposed to His presence will leave you without doubt that He exists and that you need Him for your soul's sake.

While some Christians go here and there trying to experience the supernatural, God is waiting to allow them to experience it through His Holy Spirit working the miracle of circumcising their hearts so that they will be able to love Him with all of their hearts and souls. The biggest miracle of all is the one that not many seem too interested in, and that is a transformed life. Don't chase after miracles but instead, seek Jesus with all of your heart and you will experience the greatest miracle, which is an intimate relationship with God. Then you will be ready for any other miracle that God will choose to do in your life.

Pastor Joey Vazquez