I love Jesus and have read this story many times, but this morning what grabbed me was this simple word - "His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.'(John 2:5)." Being a servant to Jesus is simply doing whatever he tells you. Now, this is different from WWJD, which points us to the example of Jesus' life as inspiration for decisions we make today. Being a servant of Jesus is also HEARING what Jesus is saying to us RIGHT NOW, then DOING IT.
What an interesting predicament the servants were in. They understood very little what was happening before them. They didn't know what Mary hid in her heart. They didn't know the glorious identity of Jesus, yet. They were told to do whatever Jesus told them. And this is the best part - Jesus told them to take six stone water jars (used for washing), to fill them with WATER and take some of it to the wedding coordinator for tasting! Now remember, the servants never had a chance to read this story before living it. They didn't know Jesus could turn water to wine. As far as they knew Jesus was telling them to do something that sounded absolutely rediculous! Even more, it would have been a cruel joke for the servants to take jars of water to the wedding coordinator, who would have been stressed beyond belief that the wine had run out with so much of the wedding reception left (they often lasted a week or longer!). The servants knew there was much at stake in following Jesus' orders. But that's what servants do - whatever the master says.
The reason we don't see many WIJD (What is Jesus doing?) bracelets is because reflecting on what Jesus did so many years ago and coming up with your own plan for the present is much more tame than hearing what Jesus is doing RIGHT NOW, and doing it! When it's up to us to decide WHAT TO DO, we'll almost always come up with something that makes sense to us; and that's what we end up with - things that make sense to us. But when we decide to listen to Jesus RIGHT NOW, the only decision is WHETHER WE'LL DO WHAT HE SAYS, and often it will challenge our ideas of what is acceptable. The results from this kind of lifestyle are just as we read in the story - SUPERNATURAL!
For this reason, we need Holy Spirit living inside us (Jn 14:17-21). It's his job to reveal what Jesus is saying and doing in every situation of our lives (Jn 16:13). Then our only decision is whether we'll do what Jesus is doing RIGHT NOW. Holy Spirit not only reveals the heart of Jesus for the present (and he loves to use the scriptures for this purpose!), but he also empowers us toward obedience. This is why Jesus says following him is light and easy (Matt 11:28-30), because Holy Spirit does everything that we can't! That's called GOOD NEWS!
The number one thing that gets in our way is our need to understand what God is telling us before we'll obey. Servanthood in the kingdom of God requires two simple things: listening and obeying. Sometimes we do receive understanding on the front end, but more often it comes on the heels of our obedience, and sometimes not until we're with Jesus in heaven. But if we want to follow Jesus into the Christian life, let's start asking Holy Spirit to reveal the heart of Jesus for every situation, then simply obey as best we can. Everything else falls into place. This is what you do because you are God's SERVANT.
And don't forget Jesus gives more to those who can be shown faithful with little. Start with the simple things and watch Holy Spirit bring you into greater maturity and responsibility.
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