Today’s reading: John 2
Do you believe the phrase “opposites attract”? After 24 years of marriage, I do. My husband is a dreamer. He is forever coming up with a grand scheme involving a new pet, a really expensive toy (think boats and jet skis) or an exotic vacation. He sells the idea to my children and they proceed with a full court press to get me on board. I, on the other hand, consider it my role to be a realist. We don’t need to spend our energy coming up with plans for pets they’ll never take care of, toys they can’t afford or vacations for which they don’t have the time or money. It will simply lead to disappointment. Because of this very practical (and somewhat boring) perspective, my family has given me the nickname Fun Hater.
When you think about God, do you think he is a dreamer or a fun hater? I admit, I find myself thinking of the latter. I generally look to places other than God for excitement and meaning. Why do I often cast him as an all-powerful God who exists only to tell me no, rather than focusing on his extravagant creation, the many gifts with which he’s blessed me, and his promise of abundance if I follow his plan for my life?
Our scripture today in John 2 opens with the account of Jesus’ first miracle. Most of Jesus’ miracles involved a renewal of fallen creation – restoring site, making the lame walk, even raising the dead to life. But this first miracle was a little different. Jesus turned water to wine. Not just a little plain water to average wine, but more than 100 gallons of water sitting in stone jars used for washing into choice wine. All to help facilitate a marvelous wedding celebration, help the master of the banquet keep his job, and help a the bridegroom avoid embarrassment. Does this sound like a Fun Hater to you?
Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 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 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” (John 2:6-10).
I believe the perfect God we serve is both a dreamer and realist. He doesn’t flip-flop his position depending on the situation, rather he works through a variety of circumstances to accomplish his purpose in each one of us. Sometimes that sounds like dreaming of great things to come, other times it looks like saying no to things that take us away from his plan. If you take one thing away from this post today, take this – God has our best interest in mind. Will you trust him? He won’t disappoint.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).