New WineSample

New Wine: The Beginning, The End 

This couple obviously planned their wedding, down to the guests. However, when they were planning their wedding, they did not plan that the wine will run out. Who plans a wedding and plans to run out of food or wine? Nobody! But it happened, the wine ran out! They experienced an “end” right at their beginning. Sometimes, we think it is strange when the wine runs out in our lives - in a relationship, in a business, in a career, and particularly in a marriage. We think it is strange when things happen to us and when the wine runs out. That is where this couple found themselves.

You may be like this couple, at the beginning and yet you are experiencing an end and you are wondering what went wrong. Guess what? We saw from yesterday's reading that this couple invited Jesus in at the beginning but somewhere in that beginning, the wine still ran out. You may be ten years gone in your business venture and you are experiencing an end, perhaps you have completely run out of ideas or direction for the business. You may be twenty years into your marriage or even one week in and come to a point where you do not feel "in love" with your spouse anymore. I want you to rest on this truth, wine can run out, but the wine that runs out can be recreated. This is what God shows us in this story.

Wine running out is normal in life. Wine can run out at your office, or in your business, or perhaps in your finances. But that is not a problem, the key thing is who is in your circle? This couple surrounded themselves with people of influence, people who can help them solve problems. They surrounded themselves with people who can do things they cannot do. They surrounded themselves with people who can take initiative. John 2:3-5 "The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.” But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Who do you surround yourself with? Who is in your circle? Are they people of influence? Whose circle are you in? The wine supply ran out during the festivities but because they had Mary in their circle, who had Jesus in her circle, Mary interceded on their behalf and a miracle happened. Do you have “Mary” in your circle? Is God trusting you to be the “Mary” in another person’s circle? Guess what? They also had servants who were not only obedient but willing to engage the ridiculous and facilitate the miraculous. I want you to spend time thinking about these things and I pray that the Word of God will speak to you.

Prayer: Father, I see now more than ever before that You will work through people. So, I pray for the grace to surround myself with Godly people, people of influence with men and with God. Father, I ask for that in every area of my life where I am currently experiencing an end, wine running out. I pray You will create new wine, sweeter wine. I also pray for an obedient heart. In Jesus' Name. Amen.