Week of Monday August 4 – August 10
Beyond the Basics – Man as Provider
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:1-5 ESV
Jesus’ mother, Mary, approached Him with a problem: the wedding they were attending had run out of wine. Such a predicament could prove very embarrassing for the host family, and she wanted Jesus to help. Although Jesus suggested that it wasn’t the right timing for such a request, He did end up intervening in an amazing way. His miraculous provision of wine brought a quick end to the crisis, honored the host, and marked the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.
Mary’s instructions to the servants and their prompt response to Jesus stood out to me. As men of God, we should seek to emulate the servants’ simple and quick response to Jesus’ orders.
In the U.S. Army, all enlisted recruits must complete Basic Combat Training, also known as “Boot Camp.” By the end of this training, new soldiers will have gained a wealth of skills and knowledge not only for combat but also for success in everyday life. One of the cornerstones of Army training is instilling an immediate and unquestioned obedience to authority. If a new recruit can’t follow orders, he won’t make it in the Army. Following orders is foundational to the rest. It is basic.
These servants followed Jesus’ orders to the letter. Look at verses 7 and 8: “Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.’ So they took it.” The result was a miracle for the ages. The water was transformed, the celebration continued, and the master of the feast complimented the bridegroom on the fine quality of this heaven-sent wine. Even more importantly, we read in verse 11: “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.”
This passage offers some timeless lessons. The first comes from Mary in verse 5: “Do whatever He tells you.” That is just basic. Do what Jesus tells you. When we obey Him, we not only set ourselves up for success but also serve as a strong example for others. By providing a faithful example of obedience to Jesus, we can positively impact every aspect of our family life, our church service, and even our occupation.
As important as the basics are, we should strive to deepen our understanding of obedience beyond the basics. Later in this Gospel, Jesus declared: “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him” (John 14:21). As the insightful devotional writer Oswald Chambers once wrote: “Obedience of the heart is the heart of obedience.” We shouldn’t obey Jesus merely out of obligation but also out of love for Him.
Following Jesus’ commandments from our hearts is the key to a life God will bless and make a blessing to others. Let’s go beyond the basics!
Beyond the Basics – Man as Provider
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:1-5 ESV
Jesus’ mother, Mary, approached Him with a problem: the wedding they were attending had run out of wine. Such a predicament could prove very embarrassing for the host family, and she wanted Jesus to help. Although Jesus suggested that it wasn’t the right timing for such a request, He did end up intervening in an amazing way. His miraculous provision of wine brought a quick end to the crisis, honored the host, and marked the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.
Mary’s instructions to the servants and their prompt response to Jesus stood out to me. As men of God, we should seek to emulate the servants’ simple and quick response to Jesus’ orders.
In the U.S. Army, all enlisted recruits must complete Basic Combat Training, also known as “Boot Camp.” By the end of this training, new soldiers will have gained a wealth of skills and knowledge not only for combat but also for success in everyday life. One of the cornerstones of Army training is instilling an immediate and unquestioned obedience to authority. If a new recruit can’t follow orders, he won’t make it in the Army. Following orders is foundational to the rest. It is basic.
These servants followed Jesus’ orders to the letter. Look at verses 7 and 8: “Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.’ So they took it.” The result was a miracle for the ages. The water was transformed, the celebration continued, and the master of the feast complimented the bridegroom on the fine quality of this heaven-sent wine. Even more importantly, we read in verse 11: “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.”
This passage offers some timeless lessons. The first comes from Mary in verse 5: “Do whatever He tells you.” That is just basic. Do what Jesus tells you. When we obey Him, we not only set ourselves up for success but also serve as a strong example for others. By providing a faithful example of obedience to Jesus, we can positively impact every aspect of our family life, our church service, and even our occupation.
As important as the basics are, we should strive to deepen our understanding of obedience beyond the basics. Later in this Gospel, Jesus declared: “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him” (John 14:21). As the insightful devotional writer Oswald Chambers once wrote: “Obedience of the heart is the heart of obedience.” We shouldn’t obey Jesus merely out of obligation but also out of love for Him.
Following Jesus’ commandments from our hearts is the key to a life God will bless and make a blessing to others. Let’s go beyond the basics!
- On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the highest and best, how would you rate your responsiveness to Jesus’ commands? What steps can you take this week to improve that rating?
- What percentage of your obedience comes from a sense of obligation, and what percentage comes from the heart? What do you think your family would say about your example of obedience to the Lord?
- Pray and ask the Spirit of God to help you move from obedience out of obligation to obedience that comes from the heart and goes beyond the basics.