The Greater Miracle | The Speckled Goat: The Greater Miracle

5.20.2015

The Greater Miracle


The Greater Miracle- Maybe planting a seed is the greater miracle. | http://bit.ly/1BjGFNU
"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." - John 14:12

Spring in rural Iowa is something to see.

All winter long, fields have sat bare, with scraggly bits of cornstalk poking out through the snow.

And then slowly, spring comes. Tractors take to the fields, and in no time, seeds are planted deep under that beautiful black soil in neat rows.

Then we wait.

The waiting time isn't very glamorous. There isn't much that the farmer can do, really, to get those seeds to pop up and show their green little heads. They wait for the miracle that only sun and water and time can bring about.





In the book of John, Jesus says that Christians will do even greater things than all the miracles he performed.

Really, though?

I mean, turning water into wine isn't a routine activity for me. (Turning water into coffee? Yes.) I don't raise people from the dead. I don't think I've ever healed a leper.

And yet, Jesus says that I will do even more - I will do things that are even greater.

I recently heard a pastor on the radio (and I pray he forgives me for not catching his name!) who said,

"Giving hearing to the deaf is a miracle. Giving them the lifesaving news of the love of Christ so that they may hear is a bigger miracle."


I tend to look for the physical- the measurable, the tangible. I want to be part of the miracle that I can point to and say, "See! It was water! Now it's wine!"

But that's a lesser miracle in the face of the intangible salvation of a soul.

Just like in life, the greatest things aren't things at all.



It's not glamorous. It's not flashy or cool.

Our miracles are everyday ones.

Speaking truth, living in love, and planting the seeds.

And then it's about the waiting. About God working the rest of the miracle- doing what only God can do, to making those seeds grow.

It may not seem like a big deal, but it's the biggest miracle of all.

16 comments :

  1. So beautifully written. What a great reminder to take a look at the miracles in our everyday lives because of God's love for us. And I LOVE watching the fields this time of year - there's something so satisfying about seeing those perfect rows of sprouting corn or beans. Where in Iowa do you live? I grew up just across the border from Spirit Lake in MN.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great reminder to be mindful about things. I'm not in Iowa (or on a farm), but I'm in Colorado where we had snow in May and it's rained for two weeks. Perhaps I'll apply this mindfulness to my own home!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We've had pretty miserable (and unseasonably cold!) weather here the past couple of days... no snow, though, thank goodness! It's amazing how the weather changes my attitude, and not always in the best way!

      Delete
  3. Very beautifully written! It brought peace to my soul today. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is a beautifully well-written post, Ally, and something to think about. Thank you for sharing! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Very interesting post. It's great to look at things from your perspective. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is beautiful! Every day miracles are the best! Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a great realization. And I love the comment about turning water into coffee! ;)
    xo, Caitlin
    And Possibly Dinosaurs

    ReplyDelete
  8. "...a lesser miracle in the face of the intangible salvation of a soul."
    YES! We so often measure our successes by what our eyes can see, don't we? May God grant us eyes to see through His eyes, endeavoring truly great things for His Kingdom as HE defines greatness. Thank you for linking up with us at Grace & Truth!

    ReplyDelete
  9. YES! I too am guilty of wanting something tangible, thanks for the reminder. Thanks for adding this to the #taketime linkup!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, I think we all can get stuck on wanting a measurable impact- that's why it's so important to describe success in the way God does! Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  10. Beautifully said. Thank you so much for this simple reminder :) And thanks for linking up with our #TakeTime link up!

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a beautiful way to put it! Thank you for linking up with us at #TakeTime!

    ReplyDelete