Do Whatever He Tells You

One of my favorite Scripture passages is the depiction of the Wedding Feast at Cana (John 2: 1-11), where Jesus performs His first public miracle – changing the water into wine. First, I love Mary’s example. She sees a need, presents it to Jesus, and calls the servants to do whatever He tells them. Before Mary could instruct others to do whatever God said, she first had to receive and follow His Word in her own life, which she did both physically and spiritually (Luke 1: 38).

“Do whatever he tells you.”

John 2: 5

The servants are asked to fill the jars with water—to offer them to the chief steward as wine. It seems ridiculous, right?—but they do it!

Not only did they do it, but “they filled them up to the brim.” Putting myself in the story, I would have been embarrassed, filling the jars up only just enough, so that the steward could not see that the “wine” I was offering Him to taste was CLEAR! Upon the steward approving the wine, I probably would have been confused and argued, “No! It’s not wine—I filled it myself—with WATER!”

I think this, because this actually is what I tend to do.

We are the servants. We are called by Mary to listen to her Son. When He asks for the water, He is asking for ourselves. What we have seems like nothing, but when we offer it to Him, as He transformed the water into wine, He transforms our humble gifts into something glorifying. Through us, His Power is made known, if we just let Him.

Instead of offering my entire self, filling the jar to the brim, I hold back. Instead of taking visible risks, I do just enough to get by undetected. When doing what Jesus asks of me, I have a litany of lines: I am not a speaker. I don’t do music. I don’t know how to paint. Blah blah blah.

I tell other people not to limit God in what He can do through them, and I am striving to first follow it myself. Honestly, it has been terribly difficult. I look around, and I see so many incredibly gifted people. I am so grateful for all of these gifts, and inspired by them, but become frustrated with why God asks me when so many could do whatever it is so much better. I so easily become discouraged. They have wine—I have only water.

This past Sunday, I was struck by the description of the woman who “works with willing hands (Proverbs 31: 13).” God asks me because I am willing, and that means I have to work willingly as well—not just listen.

I wanted to do anything else, but I painted yesterday, and I was almost terrified by the result. I would certainly not call it “the best” painting, but it is beyond my capabilities, and I trust that God can work through it. Really, He already has—I was made known of His Power.

Now, I turn to you. Do whatever He tells you.