Acts 19:11 NASB95
God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul,
Christianity has nothing to do with our ability. It is all about our availability, and availability is just our being available to His ability. The fullness of Christ enjoyed and manifested includes both His holiness reigning in us and His ministry released through us. It is all supernaturally accomplished by His divine ability. Unfortunately, most Christians think that the Christian life is our performing for God out of sincere gratitude, but Acts 19:11 reaffirms, as does the whole New Testament, that it is God who does the performing in and through us. Paul wasn’t performing extraordinary miracles for God. Instead, God was performing extraordinary miracles through the available hands of Paul. It is amazing how much easier it is for Christians to express simple acts of kindness towards others than it is for them to lay hands on someone and boldly pray for them to experience a miracle. Why is that? I believe it’s because we often think that the kind of Christianity that sees signs and wonders is bigger than our own personal spirituality and ability. The truth is, though, whether you’re allowing Christ to love someone through you by a simple act of kindness, or you allow Christ to perform a miracle through you for someone who needs one, it is the same Christ, and the performance is up to Him, not us. It is not about your spirituality or your ability. It is all about His spirituality and His ability. We just have to effortlessly keep ourselves available to the One who is able. Aren’t you grateful that the pressure is not on you to perform for Him, but the adventure is to watch Him perform the simplest or the most difficult task through you? It’s all the same to Him. Enjoy the ride.