What Does It Mean to Be "Made for More"?

Jesus made an extraordinary promise in John 14:12: "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." This isn't just inspirational language—it's a divine invitation to participate in God's kingdom work at a level that might seem impossible.

Ephesians 2 reinforces this truth: "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things that he planned for us long ago." You are literally God's masterpiece, designed with purpose and intention.

But there's something that often stands between us and this "more" that God has for us: a lack of initiative.

Why Initiative Makes All the Difference

Initiative is the discipline that separates good from great. It's the superpower that helps us win in all areas of life. Think about your alarm clock—it can ring repeatedly, but it doesn't get you out of bed. Only your decision, your action, your initiative makes you move.

For the purposes of living the "made for more" life, initiative can be defined as:

“Spirit-led action taken in faith without waiting for perfect conditions.”

God has breathed dreams, ideas, and goals into each of us. He's still calling people into ministry, missions, and meaningful work. But because that first step requires the most from us, we often stay where we are, settle for less, or even sabotage opportunities.

How to Develop Initiative: The CLEAR Method

To move toward the "more" God has for us, we need to be CLEAR:

C - Carpe Diem (Seize the Day)

In Mark's Gospel, we meet Bartimaeus, a blind beggar sitting by the roadside. When he heard Jesus was passing by, he immediately seized the opportunity, shouting, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Bartimaeus didn't say, "Next year I'll make a fresh start" or "Maybe next time Jesus comes through town." He recognized a divine appointment and acted immediately.

What opportunities are you letting slip by? What divine appointments are you missing because you're waiting for "someday"? Whatever you're going to do, do it now—tomorrow isn't guaranteed.

L - Let Go of Fear

Fear has incredible power to paralyze us and keep us from our potential. When we choose fear over faith, we become:

Skeptical and afraid to try anything new

Selfish and protective

Short-sighted, unable to see past the moment

When Bartimaeus called out to Jesus, the crowd told him, "Be quiet!" But instead of giving in to the fear of rejection, "he only shouted louder."

Whose disapproval do you fear most? That person might have become your god, keeping you from stepping into faith. Remember—people aren't thinking about you as much as you think they are. They're thinking about themselves, just like we all do.

E - Express Faith

A secret faith is a shallow faith. When we go public with our goals and intentions, we find accountability partners who can encourage us when we get discouraged.

When Jesus asked Bartimaeus, "What do you want me to do for you?", he was giving him an opportunity to publicly declare his faith. By answering, "My rabbi, I want to see," Bartimaeus was essentially saying:

“I believe you are who you say you are.”

“I believe you have the power to change me.”

“I believe you can and will change me.”

Jesus is asking you the same question today: "What do you want me to do for you?" Every goal you set is a statement of faith—it's saying, "This is what I believe God can do in my life."

A - Accept God's Grace

After Bartimaeus expressed his faith, Jesus told him, "Go, for your faith has healed you." Bartimaeus simply accepted this gift of grace.

Many of us try everything to solve our problems except asking our Heavenly Father for help. We fail to see how desperately we need God's grace—not just for salvation, but for daily life.

God's grace is sufficient for your past mistakes, your current struggles, and your future challenges. Without accepting this grace, we remain stuck in regret, unable to move forward into the "more" God has for us.

R - Respond with Your Next Step

The story concludes: "Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road." Notice the contrast:

Before Jesus: He sat by the side of the road

After Jesus: He followed Jesus down the road

Before: He settled for less

After: He took initiative

Before: He was stuck

After: He took action

Faith is more than just believing—it's action, movement, activity. As James writes, "If people say they have faith but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing."

Life Application

What's your next step? What is God inviting you to do that requires initiative on your part?

Remember, what God has for you is not behind you. Your best days, your healing, your breakthrough—they're all ahead, not behind. Don't settle for less when God has more for you.

Ask yourself these questions this week:

What God-breathed dream am I procrastinating about?

What fear is keeping me from taking initiative?

How can I publicly express my faith about what God wants to do in my life?

Where do I need to accept God's grace to move forward?

What specific next step is God asking me to take this week?

Take initiative today. Don't wait for perfect conditions. Your life is not your own—give yourself away so God can use you for His purposes. That's what being "made for more" is all about.

Pastor Tim