Living Out Jesus’ Words in Our Everyday Lives
”Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 1Very 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.And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 1You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:11-14)
Sometimes the Bible can sound complicated, but its core messages are surprisingly simple and powerful. In John 14:11–14, Jesus tells us something remarkable: He’s so connected with God the Father that when we see one, we see the other. But He doesn’t stop there—He says that those who trust Him will do the same kind of meaningful work He did, and even more! Jesus promises that if we ask for things that line up with who He is and what He’s about, He’ll do them. Why? Because He wants people to see what God is really like, through what we do in His name.
So what did Jesus do, exactly? When He first started His ministry, He made it clear: He came to bring good news to people who needed hope, to set people free who were stuck, and to lift up those who were weighed down (Luke 4:18). He didn’t just talk about these things—He lived them out, day after day, helping people, loving them, and showing what real goodness and justice look like.
Think of God’s vision for the world—sometimes called “shalom”—as a piece of beautiful music. Justice, kindness, unity, and grace are the notes that make up the melody. We’re not meant to just sit and listen; we’re invited to join in, to play our part in this grand symphony.
But there’s a problem: sin. Sin is anything that breaks God’s harmony. It’s like playing the wrong notes or dropping your instrument in the middle of a concert. Instead of justice, sin brings injustice. Instead of love, it creates hate. Sin tears apart the peacefulness, the “shalom,” that God intended for us and for the world.
C. S. Lewis, a famous writer, once said that sin is like poisoning the wine God pours out for us, or ruining the song He wants us to play. In other words, sin turns harmony into chaos, and beauty into mess. That’s why justice is so important—it’s about fixing what’s wrong, about setting things right.
Shalom isn’t just about feeling peaceful inside—it’s about everything and everyone being as they should be, working together in harmony. For that to happen, we all need to work for justice. That means looking for ways to right the wrongs around us: helping those who are hurting, standing up for what’s right, and working to make our communities better.
Knowing God isn’t just about reading or praying. It’s about getting involved in His ongoing work—joining Him in making things right. God’s goal is to fix what’s broken by sin and to bring about a world full of justice, harmony, and true joy. That’s why Jesus came, and it’s why He sends us to do the same.
“To be a responsible person is to find one’s role in the building of shalom, the re-webbing of God, humanity, and all creation in justice, harmony, fulfillment, and delight.” — Cornelius Plantinga
As Cornelius Plantinga put it, being a responsible person means finding your part in building shalom. It’s about helping to weave God, people, and all creation back together in justice, harmony, fulfillment, and delight. So, the next time you wonder what God wants from you, remember: He’s inviting you to be part of His great work of making things right. You—yes, you—can help play the music He’s written for all creation.
Minister A Francine Green I July 2025
Notes: Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be, A Breviary of Sin (Eerdmans, 1995), Cornelius Plantinga
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