The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Greater Works Than These"
Every day, born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ perform millions of self sacrificial actions, as led and enabled by His presence within us.
"I will dwell in them and walk in them" (II Corinthians 6:16).
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto My Father" (John 14:12).
Far more than 99% of the works done by Christians are never seen by more than a few as the right hand does not confer with the left hand, quietly deferring credit to God's hand (Matthew 6:3). This casts the prayers, words, actions, and sacrifices in an all the more beautiful light of humility and self deference, directly reflecting our Lord's own nature and way. Indeed, consider that His goodness fills the earth (Psalm 33:5). He does not, however, openly announce or advertise His wares. One must look with the eyes of faith to see a beautiful sunset as more than merely a natural phenomenon, glorious as it is. The humility of our right hand's silence regarding its actions coincides with the Heart responsible for all goodness and beauty, but not boastful about it (look for no "Sunset By God" to ever be imprinted on the star of earth's light source as it sublimely descends each day).
The life of the Lord Jesus most beautifully portrays this truth.
"And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen" (John 21:25).
On average, a person can read through the Gospels in a matter of hours. This leads to an intriguing question, suggested by the Apostle John: how can the works of the Lord Jesus, so vast in measure that the world cannot contain their full narrative, be confined to a mere four books, 89 chapters, and several thousand words? They cannot. We know so little of all our Lord did during His earthly lifetime. Nor can His "even greater works than these" begin to be measured as the spiritual body of Christ does what it does day by day. We do what we do through Him, as He does what He does in us. Again, in every day, this includes millions upon millions of thoughts, words, deeds, prayers, and self sacrifices that bless the world as the Lord Jesus walks upon the earth - in us. "The Lord is good to all… Do good to all" (Psalm 145:9; Galatians 6:10).
God will one day reward all those works, performed in us by the Spirit of Christ as we trust and submit to Him (Matthew 16:27). It is good, therefore, that Heaven functions in a timeless and eternal reality. It would take ages and ages to administer our Heavenly Father's affirmations bestowed upon the children who served as the scene of Christ's life, as lived among us and within us. But a cup of cold water in His name, along with countless other expressions of the Savior's love dwelling in believers do not go unnoticed by our Father. Nor will they go unrewarded (Matthew 10:42). For His glory, let us then look to see and appreciate as much as we can in our brothers and sisters, which will be so very little of all the Lord Jesus does in them, and all they do through Him.
"Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."
(Ephesians 3:20-21)
Weekly Memory Verse
We are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
(Philippians 3:3)
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