Thursday, April 23, 2009

Water Into Wine



There was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there. Jesus and his disciples were guests also. When they started running low on wine at the wedding banquet, Jesus' mother told him, "They're just about out of wine." Jesus said, "Is that any of our business, Mother - yours or mine? This isn't my time. Don't push me." She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, "Whatever he tells you, do it." Six stoneware water pots were there, used by the Jews for ritual washings. Each held twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus ordered the servants, "Fill the pots with water." And they filled them to the brim. "Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host," Jesus said, and they did. When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn't know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, "Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you've saved the best till now!" This act in Cana of Galilee was the first sign Jesus gave, the first glimpse of his glory. And his disciples believed in him. - John 2:1-11

I am always happy when God’s Spirit reveals a little nugget to me. Jesus promised that if we seek for Him, he will reveal himself to us. Luke 11:9; Luke 10:22. I too am always happy to know when God chooses to work on me. I know God continues to shape me and mold me into something that I’ve never been before. Sometimes I feel myself become hardened to his touch – being unwilling to bend or move. Sometimes I feel myself melt in His hands, completely yielding to his touch. Whatever shape, O LORD. Bend me to your will. Make me into your vessel so that I may serve you the way you intend me to.

Have you ever been something that you now look back on in amazement? Maybe something in your past that as you think about, or even see an old photograph, you now have a chuckle at? I can remember a time when I had a head full of hair. I laugh about it now, but I also claim that I’m even better than before, as far as that goes. People can change for either good, or bad. What amazes me about the story of Jesus’ first miracle is the fact that it was a miracle about change. Jesus, the son of God, changed something ordinary, into something extraordinary. Something good was changed into something even better. I compare myself and everyone else who has answered God’s call with these water pots, these jars of clay. God is willing to use us – these jars of clay, for His purpose. Philippians 2:12-13.

Granted, I agree that there are many similar stories that can be learned from this story, but this morning, this is what popped into my head.

God can use you and me, such simple vessels to be filled with something so pure and sweet that we can have powerful influence over the world. How did Jesus demonstrate this? Jesus said this in Mark 10:45. Jesus lived his life perfect and free from sin. Not that we could ever attain to his perfection, but we should strive to follow his example. The apostle Paul said it this way in 2 Corinthians 4:5. Paul also states that in his own teachings, he lived a life of servant-hood so that he might have more influence over those whom he taught. 1 Corinthians 9:19.

Dear God my Father, be merciful to me today. LORD, fill me up with your Spirit. Live in me. Move about me and around me, LORD and wash me and cleanse me of my sin. Make me holy, LORD so that you might dwell in me. LORD, change me into something better, for your sake, so that I might have influence over those who do not know you. Use me LORD. Pour me out onto those whom you want to know – onto those who are looking for you and have not yet found you. Amen.

How do you want to go through the rest of this life? Do you want to be a plain person – not having much influence or impact on others? Or do you want to be used by God. My prayer is that God will also touch you, and with His word, fill you with His Spirit so that you may be willing to be used by God. Study the story of Cornelius found in Acts 10:44-48 and witness an excellent example of a changed life. Yes friends, Jesus is still able to turn water into wine.

1 comment:

  1. I imagine that the wedding host had wine to spare for a very long time. Can you imagine the impact this had, to have such great quantity that they had to share possibly with the whole city? And for each new person that came to partake, each one was told the story about Jesus! Jesus' miracle was really a ministering gift that touched a lot of people.

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