What effect did the miracles of Christ have upon the many who witnessed them? Astonishment! What effect did his miracles have upon his chosen disciples? They certainly helped these men to know Jesus, to grow in understanding and to go forward as followers of the Lord.

The miracles proved that Jesus was the true Christ, the Son of God, the Savior, whom Peter confessed, when he said, "You are the Christ" (Mark 8:29 NKJV). The miracles fulfilled God's purpose in bringing this conviction to the honest truth seeker (John 20:30-31).

The miracles were intended to show the disciples that the offense of the cross was removed, and that in it Jesus was not conquered, but Conqueror! A resistant Peter displayed more sympathy than understanding, and stood as a hindrance to what must be (John 18:10-11). In his rebuke Jesus shows that he knows the spirit which drives us even when we may not.

The miracles of Christ should inspire us all to follow him, at the cost of self-denial, taking up his cross by conforming our lives to the pattern of a crucified Christ, enduring the hardships which go along with that decision and following him to the very end.

Anyone who has the ability to love also has the ability to hate. God is love (1 John 4:8), but there are some things he hates. If God has the ability for love and hate, so does man who is created in his image (Genesis 1:26-27).

Some present a one-sided view of God, that he is all love. But the Bible is balanced, showing both the goodness and severity of God (Romans 11:22). It is only natural that the God who loves sinful men would hate sin, our worst enemy. God doesn't only hate sin in general; there are "things" which God hates.

There are things which God does especially hate; and all those that are here mentioned are such as are harmful to our neighbor. They include a proud look, a lying tongue, killing hands, a devious heart, feet that rush into evil, a false witness and one who sows discord among brethren.

We would be wise to think more like God thinks. That means to love as God loves and hate as God hates. Those things which God hates we would do well to hate in others, but most of all, we must hate them in ourselves.