God's Best is Yet to Come

Based on John 2:1-12  The Wedding at Cana:  Water Turned into Wine
 
So how is life going for you lately? Most replies are “It’s good”.  Yes, there are things in life that could be better as well as could be a lot worse.  But what if we truly believe that God’s Best is Yet to Come?  What would need to be transformed in our thinking that would cause us to hold fast to that statement?
We heard during Sunday’s sermon that Jesus wants us to experience life with Joy.  He promises to walk with us, something better is yet to come.  Together with God, you can make it.  We are a joyful people because of what He has done for us.  (see Gifted for Joy, from 12/21 blog post)
 
In the RNM series from Andy Stanley, The Beginner’s Guide to Predicting Your Future, we heard about “building your life on something that will last”.  If you are not following Jesus you are following something or someone, Andy says.  He goes on to say, “Direction determines Destination”. 
Erwin McManus in his series titled, Your Actions Today Will Determine Your Future, uses the same thinking along the lines of “Cause and Effect”  He refers the word cause to our present, and the word effect to our future.  So, who are you following and where will that lead you?  What ideals are you living out and what effect will that have not only on you but on those who you live life with? 
 
In our reading Sunday we heard the story of The Wedding at Cana:  Water Turned into Wine.  This act was Jesus’ first miracle that he performed.  Taking the ordinary water and turning it into the best wine served at the wedding.  Other than a warm fuzzy story about saving the family from embarrassment during a wedding celebration, what is this really saying?  Andy Stanley stated that “Everyone of Jesus’ miracles were a sign that pointed to something.”   “The work of God is for us to believe in the One he sent to save us.” God invites us into something with purpose and meaning.  So, if Jesus changed water into the best something, is it to that he can take us ordinary folk, like water, and change us?  God’s Best is Yet to Come, for us?
 
The Bible, the infallible Word of God, is full of principles to live by.  Principles are not rules to follow, in that one doesn’t choose to apply them; they choose to apply to us. It’s not a law you can break.  Principles are the path, the pathway of life.  Pay attention to where you are headed!  If needed, change direction and things will eventually change.  In Andy’s series we learned that it’s not enough to have good intentions, that counts for nothing.  Satisfaction is a result of arriving where you intended to be.   Also, in Erwin’s series we heard that we are to stay faithful in the little things.  Persevere  through the obstacles, gaining wisdom along the way,  awaiting that which is yet to come.  In James 2:5 we read “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask for it from God, who gives to all without reservation and not reproaching, and it will be given to him.” 
 
In Nancy Guthrie’s video the ladies discussed the issue of contentment.  Finding contentment, no matter what’s going on outside of us. (see How to Live a Life without Regrets from 2/8 blog)   The Apostle Paul stated in his letter to the Philippians, that one can learn to be content.  When we choose to live in Christ, to bear the Fruit of the Spirit, we find contentment.  This series discussed how Contentment is rooted in a past sacrifice (the cross) and a future hope (eternity).
 
In Andy Stanley series titled “Future Family”  he tells us that we are to live as Christ’s Ambassadors.  It’s His message through us.  Our entire life is to be a message to the world. It’s characterized through the way we live with people. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15  says “For the love of Christ controls us ….those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.”  Andy teaches us to continue to live as One with God, even when things don’t seem to be in our favor.  Doing the right thing – having that kind of Faith.  One God to whom you are accountable.
 
Speaking of family… one of our questions for this week asked:  Why do you think Jesus chose this event for his first miracle?  This was a gathering of family.  Mary, Jesus mother asked him to do something in regard to being out of wine.  Could it be that God spoke through Mary to Jesus to say: my son, Jesus, it’s time – time to begin your ministry.  Mary knew Jesus was God’s beloved son.  She knew what he was capable of.  A parent’s action, a parent’s words, in this case initiated the start of Jesus ministry.  What are your words, your actions, saying to your family?  The imprint of your life in their mind very well impacts the decisions they make. Because our present actions, our life story, and the influence it has not only now, but the impact it will have on our family, on future generations, extending to our children’s children.
 
As we heard in prayer Sunday, of Transformation not only in water vessels but inside each of us, for God’s Best is Yet to Come!
 
Ephesians 3: 20-21 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever, Amen.
 
Larry & Darlene