Title: Grace of not having enough
Contents
▒▒ Text : John 2:1~11
I know that there are people who have everything, and there are those who did not achieve as much as they expected in the first half of this year. Please give thanks to God today for those who are rich, remembering the fact that God's grace comes greatly in the midst of shortcomings.
Looking at David's life, David did not sin when he was in trouble. But when everything was in abundance, he committed the sin of touching Bathsheba. It is because of this sin that the future misfortune of the Davidic family is indescribable. When the so-called 2% was insufficient, David served God even more reverently. However, we can see in the Bible that David stopped sinning when it overflowed even after filling 2%.
The same is true of us. When the so-called 2% is filled, or more than 100%, it is easy to leave God and serve idols, and there is a high possibility that we will throw away the knowledge of God. With Canaan in front of his nose, Moses preached to the Israelites in the plains of Moab. “I am very afraid that you will leave our Heavenly Father when all things abound.”
In a way, Moses lived a life that was less than 2%. More people than Moses sinned, and all those people entered the land of Canaan, but a servant who was faithful to God like Moses could not enter the land of Canaan, the destination, and died on Mount Nebo. Moses' life was a life of lack. But in view of our long history, was the life of Moses, a life that was lacking, really lacking? Was the life of Moses, who lacked the 2% who could not enter the land of Canaan, really an unhappy life? Looking back, we can see that Moses' life, which seemed insufficient, was a life of abundant grace and blessings from God.
If Moses had entered the land of Canaan, one in a hundred, the Israelites and the two million people who came out of Egypt might have worshiped Moses as a god instead of God. There is a very important and mysterious history in it. Those of you who worship Thanksgiving in the midst of abundance today will realize and give thanks for the abundance, and those who worship in the midst of need may realize God's grace in the midst of need and worship.
Today's Bible text is a valuable message about God's grace in the midst of need. In Israeli weddings, plentiful food is important, but more important is the abundance of wine. Wine symbolizes joy. Everyone at the wedding should rejoice. However, there was not enough wine to symbolize joy at the wedding. Even worse, the banquet hall hosting the wedding doesn't know that important wines are running out. So, these words teach us a lot today. We live in an age when everything is more affluent than ever. Living in this affluent age, are we really getting what we need most in our lives? Do we know if there is a lack of what is really important? talking about it. As we hold this worship service today, I hope that you will have the eyes to see what I really lack in this worship and what I really need.
Looking at the history of Christianity, what kind of person did God use? In the 2,000-year history of Christianity, we can see that God has used those who accurately looked at what was needed at that time.
Maria knew that the most important wine for the wedding was running out. I took this problem and brought it to Jesus. “There is not enough wine.” Jesus said, “Woman, what does that have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” Jesus refuses. But Maria never takes a step back. He said to the servants, “You must obey whatever Jesus says.” In Mary's heart, she clearly believed that Jesus, our Savior, would provide for our shortcomings.
No one is perfect. Even if you are materially rich, that is not all. What is important to us is whether we lack faith or lack of obedience in the work of the Holy Spirit.
The servants did as Jesus said, “Pour water into the empty jar.” “Draw water and bring it to the banquet hall.” I obeyed the word. Then, a miraculous work of water in the jar turned into the finest wine occurred.
John 2:9 says, “The banquet hall that hosted the wedding did not know where the expensive wine came from, but the servants who carried the wine knew it.” Those who obeyed Jesus knew how expensive wine was made, but those who didn't did not know how expensive wine was made.
Dear brothers and sisters, when you know that you are lacking, believe that Jesus will solve it, and obey the words of Jesus, miracles will happen right there. And when the empty jars are filled with water according to Jesus' words, the work of changing into the finest wine and abundant wine takes place right there.
Look at the conclusion of today's Bible. Jesus is the one who changes us. He is the one who turns water into wine. He fills our shortcomings with the best. Realize this truth at this time today, discover your own shortcomings at this time, and entrust your own shortcomings to Jesus. Just leave it as it is. In the name of the Lord, I pray in the name of the Lord that the oil of grace, the oil of the Holy Spirit, the oil of change, and the highest quality oil that our Lord gives us will overflow in us.
2007-07-13 18:15:30