How should we respond to witnessing God's power and authority today? Witnessing the Miracle “When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.” — Matthew 9:8 The context: Moments earlier Jesus had healed a paralyzed man, proving His authority to forgive sins. The watching crowd couldn’t miss the divine power on display. --- What They Felt and Did • Awe — a holy tremor of the soul • Glorified God — spontaneous worship erupted • Recognition of Authority — they understood the power was from God, not mere human skill Their reactions form a template for ours. --- Why Awe Still Matters • Psalm 33:8 — “Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him.” • Hebrews 12:28-29 — We “serve God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Awe guards us from treating the supernatural as ordinary or entertainment. It keeps our hearts soft and teachable. --- Glorifying God in Real Time • Psalm 29:1-2 — Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name. • Luke 17:15-16 — The healed leper “returned, glorifying God with a loud voice.” Give God verbal, public credit whenever you see His hand: answered prayer, provision, protection, salvation stories. --- Submitting to His Authority • John 14:15 — “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” • James 4:7 — “Submit yourselves therefore to God.” Recognizing authority means surrendering plans, preferences, and prejudices. Healings, changed lives, or any clear work of God cry out, “Yield to the One in charge.” --- Telling Others What We Saw • Mark 5:19 — “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you.” • Acts 4:20 — “We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Storytelling spreads awe. Share specifics: the diagnosis that reversed, the relationship restored, the peace that replaced panic. --- Responding in Everyday Decisions 1. Pause and acknowledge God whenever you notice His intervention. 2. Speak out words of praise before moving on. 3. Ask, “What step of obedience does His authority call me to right now?” 4. Tell at least one person what God did and how it points to Jesus. --- Keeping the Wonder Alive • Psalm 145:5-6 — “On the glorious splendor of Your majesty… I will meditate.” • Acts 2:43 — “A sense of awe came over everyone.” Regular Scripture meditation and fellowship with believers refresh our awareness, so each new work of God hits us with fresh wonder instead of dull familiarity. --- Summing Up When we witness God’s power and authority today, the pattern remains: Awe ➜ Glorify ➜ Submit ➜ Proclaim. Hold each element close, and every display of His might becomes a chance to deepen devotion and widen His renown. |
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