and speak new languages; they will pick up snakes, and if they drink anything poisonous, they will be unharmed; they will lay their hands on the sick,
and they will be healed.” So then, after speaking to them, the Lord Jesus was taken up into heaven and took his place at the right hand of God. The Eleven went
forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it.

Reflection:

In July 2019, a Zimbabwean pastor, wanting to convince
his flock about the power of prayer, announced that he
would walk on water on the following Sunday. He fasted
and prayed for a week. At the designated day and time, in
the presence of his family and believers, he entered the lake.
As he moved in, hoping to lift himself above the water, three
crocodiles came from nowhere and devoured him. In a matter
of minutes, what remained afloat were only a piece of his
clothing and footwear. Sad! Whereas signs and miracles
may accompany faith, we are not to put the Lord to the test.
Nor are we to take everything in the Bible literally either. Perhaps
the new languages we are gifted to speak are the languages of
love and forgiveness; the snakes we handle are the worldly
deceptions; or the poison that does not affect us are the
dangerous philosophies that the world feeds on. Our mission is
to preach; as to the miraculous acts, let us leave them to God’s
discretion.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2022