A Reminder of the Opportunity You Have Today!

Rarely do I use this blog to talk politics, and that is true today, too. Still, I think Governor Chris Christie has an important reminder for all of us as we face today. Click video to hear his response to the question of an eight-year-old girl, "What's the best part about being governor?"

 

I loved his "serious" answer. "Today I get a chance to do something great for others." His response reminded me that each of us has been given that same opportunity every day!

In John 14:11-13, Jesus makes a phenomenal statement: "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son."(NASB)

WHAT? Jesus clearly states that His followers would do "greater" things that He did while He was here? Remember, He did NOT say His followers would be greater than He is, but that they would be involved in greater work.

I like how the commentator William Barclay explains it: "When it came to a matter of numbers and extent and changing power, the triumphs of the message of the Cross were even greater than the triumphs of Jesus in the days of his flesh. It is of moral re-creation and spiritual victory that Jesus is speaking. He says that this will happen because he is going to his Father. What does he mean by that? He means this. In the days of his flesh he was limited to Palestine; when he had died and risen again, he was liberated from these limitations and his Spirit could work mightily anywhere." 

Christ was obviously pointing to the future work of His Holy Spirit through the body of believers...a work that would not be limited to one life for three years in a little corner of the world in the Middle East. Christ wasn't just talking about healing the sick and feeding the poor, but about seeing, as Barclay says, "the triumphs of the message of the cross" spread throughout the world resulting in the salvation of millions upon millions.

Every day we can enter, if we choose,  in to these greater works, being used by the Spirit of God to be a part of the greatest works, loving God and loving others (See Matthew 22:34-40).  Remember, our witness consists in much, much more than mere words, it is in the visible fabric of our lives, lived in an attitude of acting in the best interest of others, with the ultimate goal of showing others the Way to be adopted into God's family....the Way being Jesus Christ.

Jesus in the passage I just quoted, also said that if we ask for whatever we need to glorify the Father (that is to shine the spotlight of our lives on the greatness and goodness and love and grace of our Father that others might know, love and praise Him, too!), that we will be given it. So don't waste today being a victim of circumstances, look for an opportunity to do something GREAT!