Ordinary yet extraordinary

The Jews have rules about ritual washing, and for this purpose six stone water jars were there, each one large enough to hold about a hundred litres. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill these jars with water.’ They filled them to the brim, and then he told them, ‘Now draw some water out and take it to the man in charge of the feast.’ They took him the water, which now had turned into wine, and he tasted it. (verses 6-9a)

Read John 2:1-11

The six large stone jars were plain, ordinary and serviceable, yet they performed the important function of providing water for the household. Blessed by Jesus, these vessels became part of something extraordinary. Jesus used them for a miraculous purpose. He turned ordinary water into extraordinary wine – the ‘best’, the Bible tells us.

We are like those stone jars – just plain and ordinary. But, by filling us with the Holy Spirit, God makes us extraordinary.

When the Holy Spirit fills our lives, we allow God to use us to do his will. We become vessels of God’s love, living extraordinary lives, sharing the warmth of the Spirit and the joy we have in knowing who we are in Christ. We offer others the taste of the sweetness of God’s love.

Let God use you too as a vessel filled to the brim with the Spirit, allowing others to taste God’s love in your life.

Fill me to the brim with your Spirit, Lord, and use me to share the warmth of your love and forgiveness in an extraordinary life lived for you. Amen.

By Grace Bock, in “Refreshment for each day” (LCA, Openbook Publishers (2003)

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