Will You Faithfully Do What Jesus Asks?

Posted on Aug 30, 2018 Topic : Inspirational/Devotional, Men's Christian Living, Women's Christian Living
Posted by : Anna Haggard

Around the time that my coauthor, Rachel, and I started pitching the idea of a series featuring stories of influential women of the Bible, I began reading and praying through John 2. Jesus is attending a wedding. And after a few days, the wine runs out. When his mother asks him to intervene, Jesus calls the servants together and asks them to fill six empty jars. "Fill the jars with water", Jesus tells them.

And I sensed an invitation from Jesus. In the story, Jesus doesn’t ask them for a miracle. But he calls ordinary people to be faithful to the task at hand.

"Do the simple task I’ve asked of you—write the stories," Jesus beckoned to me. "Wait, see what I will do."

So we continued to write.

At the time, we believed God had gifted us an idea for a children’s series on women who are disciples, spiritual leaders, moms, businesspeople, and prophets in the Bible. The need was clear: Most children’s Bibles focused on stories like David and Goliath, Abraham, and maybe Paul. So, we began to write the women’s stories...so that girls and boys could see that women are called by God too.

Amid doubt, we continued to fill the jars. To write. To pray. To write some more.

"Fill the jars with water," Jesus continued to tell me.

Yes, Jesus.

In the gospel narrative, the servants “filled [the jars] to the brim” (John 2:7). The servants consecrated themselves to the ordinary task at hand. Likewise, we devoted ourselves to crafting our core message: that God chooses women to take part in the plan to redeem all of humanity…and is inviting girls and boys on an adventure too.

"Fill the jars with water."

We filled our jars to the brim, then to overflowing. And, in the process, Jesus began refining us, transforming our work into worship. That perhaps was the real miracle.

“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” (John 2:8-9).

In the gospel narrative, the master of ceremonies is presented the miraculous wine. But only the servants know about the miracle. Only they know their labors were ordinary.

Similarly, Rachel and I know we were gifted with the Called and Courageous Girls series. In our core, we recognize this series gives credit to the One who receives our ordinary work and makes it sacred.

Because you and I aren’t called to do transformative work, but rather, to consecrate our commonplace, everyday tasks to the One who turns water into wine.

How is Jesus inviting you to be faithful today?