16 May, Monday — Recognition

Monday of the 5th Week of Eastertide

Acts 14:5-18
Jn 14:21-26

“We have come with good news to turn you to the living God who made heaven and earth and the sea and all that these hold.”

Imagine if you were in the shoes of Paul and/or Barnabas — would you be affronted that the people you were trying to share the Good News to, totally misunderstood the situation and did the opposite of what you intended?

Now, imagine if you were one of the citizens of Lycaonia. Imagine that you witnessed the miracle of healing performed by Paul in the name of the Lord. How would you interpret these miracles? Would you believe the message that it is God who healed? Would you recognize the hand of God or attribute it to some form of idol?

I bet you are saying of course you would recognise that it was God that performed the miracles. But I urge you not to be too quick in answering this question. Take a moment and reflect. Reflect on your daily life and all the little miracles that happen along the way. Did you recognise the hand of God in protecting you, providing for you, leading you?

If I am honest with myself (and with everyone else for that matter), I must say that I don’t recognise the hand of God in my daily life. Even if I perceive the good things that happen, I don’t often attribute them to God. Often, I congratulate myself based on my own merits, good luck, good karma or to other silly reasons. Paradoxically, when things don’t go right, I often ask God, “Where are you? Why did you let this happen?”

Besides not giving God the credit when it is due, and questioning God when things go south, we fail to recognise all the gifts He showers upon us in our daily lives. The fact that we can get up in the morning, be able to breathe, be able to walk, the time we have with families, the time we have to reflect quietly, the challenges that we overcome, the tears that we shed, the joys that we feel, the love that we share; the list goes on. These are the every day miracles that we take for granted and attribute to everything else, but our one true God.  

Our hearts are idol making factories, they love to follow the noise and get enticed by the shiny fake baubles and reject the one true cornerstone. Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us stand firm in recognising our God and His love for us, and see His hand in our daily lives. Let us be grateful for all the daily miracles that God has given us.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Winnie Kung)

Prayer: Dear precious Lord, please help us to recognize You and Your loving care in our daily lives. Help us to be grateful for all the gifts we take for granted, gifts that we receive on a daily basis. In gratitude of Your love and care, help us to love You more and more.

Thanksgiving: Ever present Heavenly Father, we thank you for being with us from sunrise to sunset, for providing for us, for watching over us, even when the road is rough, You never abandon us, but carry us through it all.