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This week's focus: Servanthood

A family member recently shared that he was able to go backstage and meet a well-known country music artist. I asked how he pulled that off, and he said, “It was a miracle! I found out my good friend knows one of the band members. He invited me to go, so I went.”

As followers of Jesus, we have a good friend who made a way for us to meet God personally. Now that’s a miracle! Even more remarkable is that He invites not only our presence but also our participation. We see this in action when we read about the first recorded miracle of Jesus in John 2:7-11,

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. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of His signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested His glory. And His disciples believed in Him.

I love that the only ones to witness this miracle were the least likely of candidates. It wasn’t the head of the banquet (he didn’t even know where it came from) but the wait staff! In God’s economy, servants get backstage passes to miracles. The guests at the wedding may have known that the wine Jesus provided was outstanding, but only a few knew that it came from a jar full of water only moments before. This life-changing knowledge was a gift reserved for the servants.

It’s worth noting that Jesus could have easily turned the water into wine by Himself, but instead, He generously chose to share the work so others could share in the blessing. The same principle is true today. God calls us to serve while here on earth so that we can rejoice with Him for all eternity. It won’t always be easy, but we can take heart because we belong to a God who saves the best for last. Until then, may we obey fully by “filling the jars to the brim” by serving Him sacrificially, joyfully, and willingly.

Soon, all who belong to the Lord will get a backstage pass to the ultimate wedding: the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9). If you haven’t already, be sure and respond to this spectacular invitation so you, too, can one day say, “He invited me to go, so I went.”

by: Jennifer McAlister for My Faith Votes