Only the Best
Background Story: Jesus has been baptized by John the Baptist and has called the first few of His disciples. In the passage, we see the first recorded miracle of Jesus.
Read John 2:1-11
On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Big Idea: Choose what is best.
As I was reading this passage, God spoke to my heart a simple but powerful truth. Like these water jars which He used for His purposes, God wants to fill us to the brim with Himself. Full, overflowing with His presence in every aspect of our life. He is the choice wine. He is the best. All other options are cheap comparisons to Him.
But to be honest, it is hard to be filled completely by God in every aspect of our life when there are so many things pulling at our affection. It’s hard to see His presence invade all when He is crowded out by busyness and other pursuits. Paul prayed this powerful prayer for the church of Philippi in Philippians 1:9-11. He said, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”
Two words that jump out of this passage, “best” and “filled.” Jesus instructed to fill the jars to the brim where there was room for nothing else. I asked myself these questions and I pose them to you today. What spaces of my life am I filling with cheap imitations? Where can I make room for more of God in my life? In all things, He is the source, the real thing, the true satisfaction, and that which is best. Only between you and God can you answer these questions. Take time to speak to Him in honesty, laying down things that need to be laid down, making room for Him to move in a greater capacity in your life today. Pray to “discern what is best” in all aspects and respond to His leading.
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