Harley,
I have as lofty and reverenced an attitude and devotion to the written Word as anyone hereon, imho.
I don’t think you heard a thing I wrote on that score and I doubt I can say it more articulately enough for you to actually hear and understand. But I can say—you clearly missed it.
Certainly God’s Word does not return void. But what I was trying to articulate essentially has nothing to do with that.
Scripture also talks about fitting words in season . . . apples of gold in pitchers of silver . . .
Even Scriptures grabbed and thrown at folks—especially willy nilly in a desperate crisis—will not strike home. Will fail to meet the need and will often help innoculate the desperate folks ATAINST God AND HIS WORD.
Desperate folks NEED TOUCHED AT THEIR POINT OF NEED.
Sometimes Scriptural words can do that. Very often even the most central Biblical words canot do that. It takes “God with skin on” moving in the fullness and power of Holy Spirit—at least in HIs Love to bring The Word made flesh in sufficient tangible form to minister truly and in fact t the desperate needs.
I believe you Q. And I am hearing you. I don't think we're as far apart on this matter as you would believe. My point is, and continues to be, that we don't need miracles. It should not be what drives our faith. People who are desperate and need solace in their lives, should run to scripture and pray; not to anything else. Rain falls on the just and the unjust, but for Christians our Lord has promised to carry our burdens-that's all. Great strength and comfort comes through the word of God.
That being said, it cannot be denied that God does carry out miracles. But miracles really only have limited use and don't instill faith. They don't give us comfort. They're here today and gone. We rest in the promises of God that He will see us through any circumstance.