Leads to miracles.
Through such unaccustomed acts of government, when things reveal through the will and power of the Governor that which they do not accomplish as a part of their functioning day to day, there come about the miracles of which Scripture speaks.
– Augustine Hibernicus, On the Miracles of Holy Scripture, Irish, 7th century[1]
When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom.
– John 2.9
The Irish who came to faith in Jesus Christ under the ministries of Patrick, Finnian, Coemgen, Ciarán, and the others were a superstitious lot. Celtic pagan religion propped up a pantheon of strange deities and lesser spiritual or semi-spiritual beings, all imbued with powers of magic that allowed them to perform wonders and beguile men. These were deities and spirits to be avoided or, at best, placated, not to be known, loved, and served.
The “Irish Augustine”, the anonymous monk who compiled the catalog from which today’s quote is lifted, was at pains in his exposition to insist that the power wielded by Christ was not magic. The magic with which Irish pagans were familiar was fickle and dangerous. Augustine Hibernicus did not want them to think of the works of Jesus Christ along these lines.
He argued that the miracles of Christ represent the power of divine mind and will, working outside its accustomed ways of governing the world, to make existing reality behave in an unaccustomed manner to bless and benefit people. That view of unseen and spiritual realities appealed greatly to Celtic pagans.
Typically, our monk explained, God rules and orders all things according to His providential will and power in observable patterns and predictable ways. The regularities of the creation—the rising of the sun, the coming of seasons, the blessings of crops, and the like—are all the result of divine providence, of Christ upholding the world by His Word of power (Heb. 1.3). God rules all things with steadfast love and faithfulness so that His creatures can benefit from the blessings He intends (cf. Pss. 104, 135, 147).
The so-called “laws of nature” do not define or drive the workings of the cosmos; instead, they describe the workings of God. As C. S. Lewis noted, the “laws of nature” don’t move anything. They just tell us what’s happening as creation responds to God’s upholding Word.
Whenever, Augustine explained, God departs from this accustomed manner of providential governance, into an unaccustomed mode of rule, miracles occur. We should not think miracles to be common. They are, after all, unaccustomed ways of working. But miracles are neither whimsical nor ominous; they are rather the manifestation of the Presence, goodness, power, and love of the eternal God, inviting us to consider His grace and rest in His power.
Paul says we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2.16), and while we may not expect to call on that power to summon up a miracle on demand, still, there is power resident within our minds waiting to inform, expand, and supercharge our thoughts, outlook, vision, dreams, plans, and ability to grasp and obey the truth of God.
We have the mind of Christ! A mind that thinks in terms of selfless service and the glory of God (Phil. 2.5-11). That, in our tribal and post-postmodern age, would be miracle enough. But we have the mind for it. The mind that turned water into wine (Jn. 2)! What might we dare to ask or think so that His power may be known in us (Eph. 3.20)? How might we use this mind to make every thought obey Jesus (2 Cor. 10.3-5)?
Our unbelieving neighbors are not accustomed to people thinking of them in terms of self-denial, service, and love. How might the people in your Personal Mission Field respond to some unaccustomed (for them) thinking and living on your part? Self-denying love seems like a miracle to many people today. But it’s only Jesus’ way of relating to the world and working to restore miserable, despairing people to God. It should characterize how we think about the world as well.
We have the mind of Christ. Isn’t it time we began thinking and living in ways more accustomed to Christ and unaccustomed to the world?
For reflection
1. Why are people today unaccustomed to being loved, cared for, served, and affirmed by their neighbors?
2. How can we as believers gain more of the mind of Christ, so that we think like He does about our lives and world?
Psalm 77.11-15 (Leoni: The God of Abraham Praise)
Now let us call to mind Your deeds and wonders, LORD,
And meditate on all Your works and praise Your Word.
Full holy is Your way great God of earth and heav’n;
To You, O God of strength and pow’r, all praise be giv’n!
Give thanks
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Singing God’s Word
The Ailbe Psalter enables you to sing the psalms of Scripture to familiar hymn tunes. It’s a great way to live unaccustomedly in our world today. Learn more and order your copy in book form (click here) or in a PDF for your e-reader (click here).
Thank you.
Many of you are faithful and generous in praying for and supporting Crosfigell and The Fellowship of Ailbe. Thank you. May I encourage all our readers to seek the Lord about becoming a supporter of The Fellowship of Ailbe? It’s easy to give to The Fellowship of Ailbe, and all gifts are, of course, tax-deductible. You can click here to donate online through credit card or PayPal or Anedot, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
T. M. Moore
All Psalms for singing from The Ailbe Psalter. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[1] Carey, p. 53.
