Mini Bites 40.0

And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on Him. I myself did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."

John 1:32-34

I have issues with God: trust issues. I want to see the whole picture for my life. Just knowing a corner of the frame is not enough for me. 

But that's how life with Him goes: no matter how many times I've begged Him for my life manual, the unabridged version not some pamphlet, God continues to shine just one part of the canvas, asking me to step into the current spotlight.

And I fight and I struggle because that small illumination does not quell my fears of getting it wrong, of failure, of missing Him. If I see one part, who's to say that in this part I would not make decisions that could mess up the rest of the painting? I need to see everything to make sure that no mistakes are made.

But with those fears, I forget that if I do get it wrong, if I fail then God will make it good and if I miss Him, then He will find me. I need to trust He is more than enough in those places where I lack.

God is not playing hide-and-seek. He's not hard to find. He wants to be in relationship with us. He wants to lead us and once we understand that, we can fearlessly go where He calls us, trusting He'll share the rest of the details when needed.

In John 1, John the Baptist is baptizing people in the Jordan River. He's making way for the Messiah but as the verses above illustrate John has no clue as to who it is.

But that doesn't deter John. John was committed to what God called him to do. He doesn't abandon his post when, after baptizing countless people (who came to the river to hear his message of repentance), it turned out that the Messiah wasn't among them. 

It didn't matter how long he had to stay in the water or how many people he saw: if this is where God wanted him, John knew it was for good reason.

And it was, because one day Jesus finally showed up. Although, John didn't know who He was, God clued him in when it was time. Jesus didn't have to introduce Himself, God did. John didn't have to guess, God pointed Him out.

We can learn a lot from this moment:

1. Be committed to where God has you. It is not a waste of time, it is not a detour. It is a divine appointment where God is going to reveal something to you.
2. Be committed to what God wants you to do in this moment of your life. John knew his purpose was to bring people to repentance so that the Messiah might be revealed. He didn't waste his time trying to unveil who the Savior was. John stayed in his lane of preparing the people to behold the Lamb of God.
• What you are doing is important. If John got it inside his head to go find the Messiah then those people would have never been ready for Jesus' coming. Don't discount what God has you doing. It's important.
3. Allow God to do the revealing. He will do it at the right time in the right way. He has all the pieces, He knows how everything works together. Rest in God, knowing that He knows what's best.

When you're on mission for God with three pieces of the puzzle, it can be frustrating because it seems that you don't have enough. But you do and when you've exhausted the three in your hand, He'll give you the other set of three when the time is right.

You don't have to relocate, you don't have to change lanes or do something different.

Where you are and what you are doing has purpose. And when it's time for the next thing, God will tell you. You can trust in that truth.

Mini Bites 39.0

Don't underestimate the little.

Don't do it cause you never know what that little can bring about.

A little faith enabled Peter to walk on water. Yea, he began to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus but none of that would have happened if Peter didn't have that small faith to step out in the first place.

A young boy's lunch of five loaves and two fish fed 5,000 hungry men and their wives and children. His one serving fed at least 15,000 people and there were leftovers that filled twelve baskets.

Don't underestimate the little.

David's huge faith in God brought him in front of the giant, Goliath, and all he had in his hand was a slingshot. He brought a slingshot to a sword's fight but David still brought down Goliath with a rock.

God put Gideon in charge of an army of 32,000 men then put them through a series of tests that left Gideon with 300 men to fight against the Midianites that were as numerous as the sand. Gideon won.

You never know what a little can bring about.

Because you can't put a limit as to what God can do. He has unlimited resources. God is the Source and He never runs out. Why are you so worried about the little you do have? Why are you worried when God can still do something with your small contribution?

Let it all go. The reservations, the fear, the mentality of lack. God's not worried about all that. He wants you to give it to Him.

Do you trust that God can do exceedingly and abundantly more than you can ask or imagine? Do believe that He can do more than what you have?

Then give Him the little and watch Him do more.

Jesus Comes Through

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...

John 2:6-8

The wine was finished and Mary brought it to Jesus' attention.

She turned to the servants and said, "Do as He says."

Then it got weird. Jesus instructed them to fill the ceremonial washing jars, which were probably used to wash multiple hands that day, with water and serve it to the master of the banquet.

He didn't pray over the jars. He didn't wave His hands over them.

The servants did everything: they handled the jars, they drew up the water from the well and now they were about to serve the host of the wedding with a cup from their work.

The only thing they had of Jesus was His word.

If I was one of those servants, I would be afraid. Although, I acted on Jesus' word, I can only do so much and one of the things I am sure about is that water from me will remain as such. Don't expect wine drawn from my cup.

I would feel confident if Jesus worked alongside me. Actually I would be confident if I was Jesus' helper as He did all the work. But acting on His word solo... yup, I would be terrified. My hand would shake as I hand over the cup and you would never find me praying harder than in that moment for Jesus to come through.

And He does. On His word, the water turned into wine and it leaves me wondering when did it happen?

Did it happen as the servants drew from the well? Did it happen when all the jars were filled to the brim? Did it happen when the cup touched the host's lips?

When did the miracle happen?

I'm not sure the moment could ever be pinpointed. You say a prayer, you stand by your convictions, you move by faith but it isn't until much later that you realize a change occurred and even with hindsight, the moment cannot be known definitively.

But one thing I do know is that nothing would have happened if a choice wasn't made by the servants to do as Jesus said.

The surest way to not see Jesus work a miracle in your life is to do nothing.

And the most definitive way to do nothing is to get caught up on what He asks you to do.

In these verses, Jesus took something unusual- ceremonial jars- and filled it with a common thing- water- to bring forth a miracle: wine.

Reality has taught us that jars + water = jars full of water. And we get into arguments with God because what He's asking us to do has not been done before, like why can't we go to the liquor store to get more wine? Shoot, wine coolers will be much better than jars full of water.

But they did it. And in their obedience, it happened.

We need to let go of our plans so that His can fall in place.

There's no timeline for God's word. Once it leaves His lips, the word is stationed where He placed it, ready to do as He said. Then when you make the decision, regardless of how ridiculous it may look, to follow Him, the word unfolds with each step you take.

You don't have to worry about making a fool of yourself. Before you know it, it's already done.