God: Master of water and wine

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first post in the archives, dated November 12, 2008, where I introduce myself and the blog. I invite to you add in any reflections or comments you may have.

Blessings and best wishes,
Dr. Will.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Devotions: Ps 18; 2 Sam 23:13-17b; 2 Jn; Jn 2:1-11

Lord, You are my Strength, my Rock, my Fortress and my Deliverer. I love You, and I call upon You, Who are worthy to be praised; so I am saved from my enemies. Death had me in its clutches, but when I cried out, You saved me. My God is Master of nature; He rescued me again and again, and He has vindicated me by His own hand. YHWH lightens my darkness, and in Him I can crush a troop and leap over a high wall. His ways are perfect. God has girded me with strength for the battle; He has overwhelmed my enemies. I beat them fine as dust and cast them aside like mud in the streets. YHWH lives; blessed be my Rock; exalted by the God of my salvation! Praise to God forever.

During the struggles against Philistia, David expressed a longing for the water from the well at Bethlehem’s gate. Three of David’s personal guard broke through the Philistine lines and brought some of that water to their king. David poured it out as an offering to God: ‘Fear be it from me, O Lord, that I should drink, as if it were the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me!’

John writes ‘to the elect lady and her children’ – probably one of the churches in Asia – ‘loved by all who know the truth: grace, mercy and peace with us, from God the Father and from Jesus the Messiah, the Father’s Son, in truth and love. As we have been commanded by the Father, so I beg you: continue in love: follow God’s commands. Many deceivers have gone forth, who will not acknowledge God’s incarnation in Jesus the Messiah; such men are the antichrist! Be sure you hold fast to what you have claimed by faith; abide in the doctrine of the Messiah, so that you have both the Father and Son. Receive no one who comes with some other doctrine, for whoever receives these shares in their wicked work. I hope to see you soon! The Christians in your sister church send you greetings.’

Jesus and His disciples attended a marriage in Cana of Galilee; His mother Mary was there, too. When the wine gave out, Mary said to Jesus, ‘They have no wine.’ Jesus replied, ‘Dear woman, what have you to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.’ But Mary said to the servants, ‘Do whatever He tells you!’ Nearby stood six large stone jars, holding twenty to thirty gallons apiece, normally used for the mikvah purification rite. Jesus told the servants to fill the jars with water; when this was done, he directed that they draw some from one of the jars and take it to the steward of the feast. The water had become wine, and when the steward tasted it, he said to the bridegroom, ‘Usually, people serve the best wine first, and then, when the guests have had a lot to drink, they bring out the poorer wine. But you have kept the best wine until now!’ This was the first of Jesus’ great signs, manifesting His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.