Greater Things

So, this Thanksgiving break has been pretty awesome for a few reasons, some of which most people would not quite interpret that way. My car broke down last Friday while I was trying to leave SAU for break, and it turns out the engine cradle is broke, which is normally a cause to buy a new car. *BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE.* First, this is so bad that I'm EXTREMELY fortunate that I didn't make it to the highway, which was only about a half-mile away. If the engine cradle would've broke while I was going 70mph down the interstate, I would most likely be dead. Second, I found out it's covered under a $2,000 recall warranty, meaning the dealership will fix it for free and possibly repair any other damages caused by the break...so my car will basically be in better shape than before it broke down, AND it won't cost me a dime. At least, that's how it's looking so far. Thank you, Jesus.

Since my car is in the shop for a while, my mom has been driving me around when I really need her to. This has given me some really nice times to just hang out with her and talk, and I've come to realise how much she really does for me without me realising it. Thank you, mom, and thanks again, Jesus.

Since it's break and I'm stuck at my house in Lansing, I've also had a lot of time to do schoolwork by myself, which has been nice. I've also been filling out job applications for when I'm done at SAU and officially move to Lansing. I'm praying I get a job with the Ingham County Parks Department, particularly at Hawk Island County Park or at Potter Park Zoo. I'd appreciate your prayers for that, as well.

Tonight I was reading out of John 14, specifically verses 12-17. This is the passage where Jesus says we can do greater things than He did now that He's in heaven...but actually, that's not quite right. Jesus says this: "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do...." Note the key words in there: "whoever believes in me," and "will." If we really believe in Christ, He said Himself that we WILL do what He did, not just CAN do what He did. In fact, Jesus said we will do greater things than what He did...again, WILL DO, not CAN DO. Throughout these verses, Jesus makes a lot of emphatic, absolute statements which I often take for granted. I usually see things like this and say, "Oh, well, I can do those things, but God just isn't working that way through me right now," or, "You know, Jesus can do anything if I ask in His name, but that doesn't mean He necessarily will."

What a load of crap. Stronger words would better express how I feel about this. There are some HUGE promises in these verses that we just take advantage of and forget about. However, there are also a lot of conditional statements which we can pass over, too.

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments."

Notice the placement of the "if" and the "will" in there. It doesn't say, "You will love me if you keep my commandments," and this is very important. This really got to me.

Read through the whole passage here. Do it slowly, word by word, and take in what Jesus is saying in each sentence. Pray about each promise He makes. Ask God to open your heart to His leading.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither seems him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells in you and will be in you." Jesus, John 14:12-17

Peace.