“But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” Luke 4:11-12 NLT
Pam’s dad, Poppy, was an artist at wrapping Christmas presents. Every fold was creased like it came from the factory. All the exposed ends of the paper were folded underneath to give clean lines on the end and on the bottom. Great care was given to show the importance of the gift. So, you can imagine our amusement when the twins, as babies, wanted to play with the paper, rather than continuing to open the real gift.
Many are engaging in a time of fasting and prayer during the beginning days of January. Some started on the 1st day of the year and some are starting churchwide together on this first Sunday of the year. As you fast, it will not take you long to begin to identify the grip that food or other things have over your daily routines. Compromise is a tablespoon of poison to your commitment that you made. I am not talking about forgetting and then adjusting. Rather, the thought that says,”It’s okay to make a little exception this time” will erode your commitment. I encourage you to stay true to your fasting goal, for you will have obstacles that want to derail you from completing it.
One of the themes I am pressing into this year is the word “greater”. I don’t want to settle for the status quo of ministry. Youth are willing to take chances and risk. As we tend to grow older, I find we move in the opposite direction of being conservative and less daring. I fully understand that different personality types will engage at different levels. But, I believe that God can place a thirst for “more” of the manifestation of His abiding presence with us, fulfilment of His purpose to us, and release of His power to others through us. If the harvest that is plentiful is to be reached, it will take a realignment of our lives to flow in the direction of God’s movement, who is seeking the lost.
Our verse today, reveals the conundrum that we experience as it relates to more of and from God. We are stuck in the realm of our physical eyes and understanding. If we can’t see it or understand it, then we don’t know how to integrate it into our lives. We get stuck in the dynamics of having buckets (having the necessary tools to accomplish what God is asking from us, like money) and the depth of the well ( the numerous obstacles in our way to fulfill the vision that God has given). We are experts at buckets and wells and lack the insight and faith of the “greater” God who invites us to do His bidding.
Whatever your problem is…God is greater.
Whatever the obstacles are to engage in your vision from God…He is greater.
Though time seems to have stopped or passed you by…God is greater.
Even though your list of frustrations and disappointments have built their own imprisonment…God is greater.
When your eyes can only see to the roadblock at the end of your dilemma… God is still greater.
May your faith eyes be opened. May God’s light shine in your darkness to reveal the hope of His calling. May you be changed into His image in greater measures. May hope arise within your heart at levels that are so needed in your life. May you realize Jesus is greater than your former understanding of Him.
Chris Tomlin sang it well, “How great is our God, sing with me, How great is our God.” May you experience at deeper levels the greatness of our God throughout this year. May you receive more witnessing opportunities leading to salvation and faith to live in the realm of greater things. May all of God’s greater for you, fall upon you in abundance.
Blessings Love y’all