Seeing Greater Things
“You will see greater things than these…” John 1:50 (NIV)
I don’t live in the mountains, yet I’m close enough to catch glimpses of them from a distance. Every time I do, I’m awed by their beauty and reminded of the greater things—the Blue Ridge —right in front of me. Even so, “greater things” aren’t limited to lovely horizons. In fact, they’re everywhere, all around us: in the miraculous, the mundane, the daily, and the divine. The God of the universe is actively at work through His people and in our world, which is both breathtaking and beautiful. And it gets even better, because in His kindness God invites us not only to notice, but to truly see greater things.
About These “Greater Things”
Thankfully, we don’t have to wonder what these “greater things” are. Scripture names them so we can see that every great thing is God‑initiated, flowing from His strong character, His tender heart, and His eternal purpose. And at the very top of that list is His great love for us (Ephesians 2:4). This is the greatest thing we could ever see. Nothing in this world surpasses it. In fact, seeing His great love is where true sight begins. It is the crux of the Gospel and the foundation of our faith.
Exposing Lesser Things
In the same way it’s essential to identify “greater things” so we can pursue and embrace them, it’s equally critical to recognize the lesser things. By lesser, I mean anything and everything that causes us to lose sight of what matters most. And what matters most is God Himself—loving Him supremely and, equally important, loving others like He loves us. This is the greatest commandment, the basis of the Great Commission, and the heartbeat of the great Gospel.
Everything else, including the worries of today, the concerns of tomorrow, and the thoughts about the future, are lesser things. This doesn’t mean we should never think about lesser things, but it does mean we shouldn’t allow them to dominate our thoughts. Our God is faithful. He knows what we need, when we need it, and He always knows and does what is best.
Seeing Greater Things Now
And the good news is this: the greater things Jesus invites us to see are not reserved for our “someday.” Not at all. They’re on display right now, in our today. They are seen in the transforming power of the Gospel, the restoration of relationships, the healing of bodies, minds, and hearts, the unity and community of believers, and the ongoing expansion of God’s church. These great things—on full display—are happening nationally, globally, and locally on college campuses, in coffee houses, in workplaces, on park benches, and in community gatherings. So, the question is never whether there are greater things to be seen. Instead, the question is whether I am seeing them.
Making It Personal…
In my own life right now, one of the “greater things” God has invited me to see involves a three‑year‑old girl who visits me, along with one of her parents, nearly every afternoon. What began as simple curiosity to see my cat has grown into a daily rhythm of hide‑and‑seek, watering my basil plant, racing down the hallway, choosing a lollipop, and ending with her grand finale: a somersault on my front lawn before she heads home. This may seem small or insignificant, but I see it as a “greater thing” God is doing in the heart of a child who feels loved and welcomed in my home.
So perhaps today, ask God to help you see with renewed vision and clarity the greater things He is actively working in your family, your friends, your community, your church, and in you.
Pray
Father God, I am so grateful for the privilege of seeing with Spirit‑given eyes the “greater things.” You are actively working in the world, in Your church, in my family, and in me. Help me release the lesser things that daily seek to distract my vision. And empower me instead to focus on the greatest and most important things before me—loving You supremely and loving others with the same radical love You have shown me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
Reflect
What “greater thing” might God be inviting you to see with more clarity right now? And are there lesser things you may need to release to Him so you can see His work more fully?
My friends, your thoughts matter! I’d love to hear from you. Consider sharing your responses in the comment section below!