A Daily Devotional with Pastor Doug Crouse  January 19, 2018  

Can You Believe It?   Scripture Reading – John 14:12 (NLT)

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.”  

The disciples were discouraged and disheartened when Jesus told them that He would be leaving them and the place where He was going they could not come. After all they had left everything to follow Jesus and they had been with him night and day over the past three years!

Jesus, the One who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, of course was going home to be with His Father in heaven, where today my sister and brother He is seated at the Heavenly Father’s right hand in glory, given all power and authority both in heaven and on earth!

Of course the disciples could not understand what Jesus was talking about, because they were so bound to this temporal earthly world. Jesus encouraged them, and also encourages us to place our faith in Him today, just as if He were right here beside us. Yet, He is not beside us, but rather is living within us in the Person and power of the precious Holy Spirit.

The question that Jesus was asking His disciples is the exact same question that He is asking to you and I today, ‘Can You Believe It’? For apparently this is not restricted to the 12, but as we see in today’s text Jesus is reminding us that this is for ANYONE, who follows after Him and chooses to believe in the promise of His Word.

Yes, anyone of us will do the same works that Jesus Christ has done. That is God’s plan, promise and purpose through those of us who are in the Body of Christ. Jesus is the head, and we are the members called to do good works.

Not only are we to do the works that Jesus did, but He desires and will equip us to do even greater works, as we place our faith and hope in His holy Word and will for our lives.

How can this happen we may ask? Remember that right now Jesus is ever interceding that you and I would walk in the fullness of His holy calling, doing great works in His name that the Son will bring glory to the Father.  

Prayer Father I thank-You for this word today, and once again I receive it into my heart and life. I do believe Lord that all things are possible. Holy Spirit fill my life I pray to the fullness of God that Your works and will can flow through my life in an ever increasing measure for the greater glory of Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord.  

Memory Verse:  Luke 11:1 NLT “_____, ______ us to ______, just as John ________ his __________.” Luke 11:1b