How Much Is a Miracle?
Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."1
The following story was sent to me by a Daily Encounter reader in Saudi Arabia. Even if this is a myth, it is an excellent parable. Be sure to read the end for the real miracle.
A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Carefully placing the coins back in the jar, she made her way six blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big sign above the door. She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention but he was too busy and totally ignored her. Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!
"And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. "I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages."
"I want to talk to you about my brother," Tess answered back. "He's really, really sick, and I want to buy a miracle."
''I beg your pardon?" said the pharmacist.
"His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?"
"We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you," the pharmacist said, softening a little.
"I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest."
The pharmacist's brother was a well-dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does your brother need?"
"I don't know," Tess replied with her eyes welling up. "I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money."
"How much do you have?" asked the man from Chicago.
"One dollar and eleven cents," Tess answered barely audibly, "and it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to."
Well, what a coincidence," smiled the man. "A dollar and eleven centsâ€"the exact price of a miracle for little brothers."
He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the miracle you need."
That well-dressed man was supposedly Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neurosurgery. The operation was completed without charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well.
"That surgery," her Mom whispered, "was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost." Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost … one dollar and eleven cents … plus the faith of a little child.
As I said, this story was sent to me from a Daily Encounter reader in Saudi Arabia who wrote: "Dear pastor Richard, this story has been circulated among Christians here in Saudi and it gives greater impact to us and touches our heart. Your work is the same like the person in the storyâ€"your ministry gives us a miracle that truly is a gift from God, Jesus Christ."
And you, dear reader, as you stand with us in prayer and financial support are a vital part of God's miracle to touch people like this person in Saudi Arabiaâ€"and multiplied thousands of others worldwideâ€"reaching them with God's miracle of love and salvation … around the world … around the clock … 24-7-365. To me the real miracle is that we can, via email and the Internet, reach millions of people world-wideâ€"including where the preaching of the gospel and Christian message is forbidden. Daily Encounter alone is going to well over a third-of-a-million worldwide subscribers every weekday of the year. Thousands more are being reached with the gospel daily via ACTS websites.
If you are able, your financial support, be it large or small, will be greatly appreciated so we can continue to keep sharing God's good news without charge to multiplied thousands of people around the world. If you can help even with a little, you can send support through our secure server at: https://actscom.com/donate.php. Or support can be sent via the post to ACTS International at the address below.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for the miracle of your salvation and that someone shared the Christian message and gospel with me. In appreciation for all you have done for me, I want to help others to have the opportunity to hear the gospel and receive you as their Lord and Savior too. Please guide me in how I can do this. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
1. Luke 6:38 (NIV).
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