One of my three favorite meals of the day is breakfast. (On some days, it is one of my four favorite meals of the day.) The only downside to eating breakfast is that it can at times pose a dilemma, especially when Vickie and I are eating breakfast in a restaurant. The restaurant quandary arises when I am offered a choice of meats to go along with the eggs, pancakes, and hashbrowns. You see, I love bacon. The only thing better than eating bacon is eating more bacon. The same could be said about eating sausage. And then, to add to the “tilt, tilt, tilt” going off in my brain is my enormous love of ham. I am sure that there are many readers that are reading this post right now that are identifying with this eating “crisis”. Thankfully, there is a solution. It’s found at the Cracker Barrel restaurants in a meal called Grandma’s Sampler. This feast (that I believe originated in heaven) has eggs, pancakes, hashbrowns, and ALL three types of meat. It’s no longer a strain on my brain. It’s one big YES!!!
I am sharing my freedom from the either/or dilemma to tell you about one of the many reasons that I love the Holy Spirit. Please excuse this oversimplification when I say that the Holy Spirit is in the Grandma’s Sampler business. Consider this promise from Jesus …
“I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone
steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able
to do the things that I do; and he will do even
greater things than these, because I go to the Father.”
John 14:12 (Amplified Bible)
For centuries, theologians have argued about these greater things. Many have decided that these works are greater in quantity. In other words, in their understanding of the scripture, those believing in Jesus can do a greater number of displays of heaven’s power than we read about in Jesus’ earthly ministry. On the other hand, there are those who teach that the works are greater in quality. By this, they are stating that Jesus was referring to the whole scope of the impact of His people and church.
Herein lies the problem. Is it quantity or quality? Before I give the answer, let me tell you how I came to my answer. It’s found in the last phrase of this verse “… because I go to my Father.”
What was the importance of Jesus going to the Father?
“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you
another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor,
Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby),
that He may remain with you forever —”
John 14:16 (Amplified Bible)
I know that you can already see my answer to the quantity or quality debate. The answer is YES to both. Upon looking at the credentials that Jesus gave the Holy Spirit “… Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby) …”, how can the answer be anything other than “yes”? Then, add to the credentials the promise that the unlimited, all-powerful, always-present Holy Spirit is abiding in believers, there is absolutely no need to make a choice between the two. The answer now becomes quantity “yes, yes, yes, yes” and quality “yes, yes, yes, yes”!
I’ll let you continue to think about this reality while I get off of the computer and go dream about taking a trip to Cracker Barrel and enjoying a wonderful Grandma’s Sampler breakfast with the bacon, sausage, AND ham.
With the Holy Spirit’s enablement, go do the greater works!
