"Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment (John 7:24, RSV). This is one of the deepest sayings of Jesus, which shows us the basic method for discovering the truth about us and our world. To find the truth, we need to go beyond appearances.

Most of people live and act on a superficial level, trusting to their senses. However, appearances do not reveal the final reality about the universe. The world is much deeper than we can see it. It is more complex. But not only that - the world is basically good, and this fact is not discovered by sense observations. Its goodness is rooted in God's immanent presence. God is love - all-prevailing, all-encompassing, all-sustaining love. Being expressions of God in this world, sent forth with a special purpose, we carry within ourselves all the divine qualities we need for the fulfillment of our mission, and for our personal happiness and satisfaction.

Realization of this truth sets us free. It leads us out of Egypt of ignorance to the Promised Land of light and love.

The Christ lives within us as the fullness of the divine potential. The kingdom of God, the realm of divine ideas, is our true home. With such knowledge, we achieve real mastery.

We are far from being miserable, stumbling, and powerless creatures.

Beyond our apparent weaknesses, lies our power.

Beyond our apparent attachments, dependencies, and entanglements, lies our freedom.

Beyond our apparent sicknesses and infirmities, lies our wholeness.

Beyond our apparent lack and need, lies our abundance.

We all are greater than what we seem to be. It is our responsibility to rise up to the level of our true greatness by denying negative appearances. By doing this, we will simply follow the footsteps of Jesus. He was set before us as a shining example of what is possible for a human. And, as we analyze His life, we can see that He always denied appearances, neither taking them as the final reality, nor submitting to them.

He rebuked physical and mental sicknesses in people that were coming to him, declaring them healthy and clean. He rebuked the storm, proclaiming peace and calmness. He denied apparent lack of food by giving thanks to God for generous provision.

Jesus knew that health, peace, and abundance are essential divine ideas, which can and should be brought forth into expression by persistent faith and affirmations. His actions, probably, looked crazy for some observers. But there was power behind them, for they were followed by great demonstrations.

In our own ways, we are encouraged to imitate the same pattern. "Truly, truly, I say to you, He who believes in Me, the works that I do he shall do also, and greater works than these he shall do" (John 14:12). It is a challenge for those who believe that Jesus was different from the rest of us, and also for those who think He never existed, or never performed acts attributed to Him. People can prove His existence by doing the things He did.

Perhaps, it would be unwise for us trying to start with attempts to feed thousands with few loaves of bread, or to bring a dead person back to life. All progress is gradual, and if we are running too fast, we will probably stumble, and become disappointed. Rather than feeding thousands, let us first feed ourselves - and our loved ones. Rather than raising a dead, let us first lift up our life to a new level of wholeness, vitality, and power.

As soon as we become accustomed to seeing the reality beyond appearances, we will be ready to move to greater manifestations of God's presence in us and through us. In such a way, we will become a blessing for our world.