Greater Things
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.”
John 14:12 (NLT)
I am not one for contemplating doing great things. I read somewhere once that if you can’t do great things, do little things in a great way! But can you imagine doing greater works than Christ did on his journey here on earth?
Peter did. You know the one I mean, impulsive Peter who walked on water then, when his brain caught up with his mouth, sank. Peter, who claimed he would never desert Christ yet, at the first sign of trouble, disowned him. That Peter went on to do greater works than Christ. We read in Acts 5:14-17 (NIV), “Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.” This to me suggests that they were healed just by Peter’s shadow passing over them!
Matthew 17:20 says, “‘You don’t have enough faith,’ Jesus told them. ‘I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.’” Faith the size of a mustard seed is all that is needed.
So what is holding us back? Consider this poem By Marianne Williamson entitled, Our Deepest Fear: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
1 John 4:18 tells us that perfect love casts out fear. And that love comes from above.
Prayer
Great Eternal Father, thank you for the incredible human potential that you have given us all. Help us to shine now as we look forward to and await our place in your Mansion. We thank you for the hope you give us. In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen
Study by Jackee Brown
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About the Author: Jackee Brown is a member in the Worldwide Church of God UK Congregation in London.
Local Congregation:
Worldwide Church of God London
Indian YMCA Student Hostel
Mahatma Gandhi Hall
41 Fitzroy Square
LONDON W1T 6AQ
Meeting Time:
Saturday 2:30pm
Local Congregational Contact:
Martin Ryan
Phone: 07958 386944
Email: martin_ryan@wcg.org.uk