Time Out! Devotions

(from Luther Seminary – God Pause Daily Devotional)

John 2:1-11 (NCV)

¹ Two days later there was a wedding in the town of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there,² and Jesus and his followers were also invited to the wedding.³ When all the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

⁴ Jesus answered, “Dear woman, why come to me? My time has not yet come.”

⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you to do.”

⁶ In that place there were six stone water jars that the Jews used in their washing ceremony. Each jar held about twenty or thirty gallons.

⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled the jars to the top.

⁸ Then he said to them, “Now take some out and give it to the master of the feast.”

So they took the water to the master. ⁹ When he tasted it, the water had become wine. He did not know where the wine came from, but the servants who had brought the water knew. The master of the wedding called the bridegroom¹⁰ and said to him, “People always serve the best wine first. Later, after the guests have been drinking awhile, they serve the cheaper wine. But you have saved the best wine till now.”

¹¹ So in Cana of Galilee Jesus did his first miracle. There he showed his glory, and his followers believed in him.

A mother’s words can have a lot of power. When I was growing up, there was one phrase from my mom that I hated to hear more than anything else: “I know you’ll do the right thing, honey.” She always seemed to know when I was tempted to slack off in school or ditch my responsibilities at home. That little phrase got right at who I wanted to be inside. It pushed me to make her proud – and to make choices I could be proud of too.

Jesus’ mother seems to have that kind of power over her son, too. With one phrase – “they have no wine” – she gets under Jesus’ skin. And despite his outward insouciance – “that’s not my problem” – she appears sure her son will do the right thing. Maybe she’s just being a mom … but maybe she also knows just who Jesus is inside.

Are there any words that have that kind of power over you, that drive you to do the right thing, to be the bigger person, to make your mother – or your Father – proud?

“Lord, I want to make you proud of me. Help me be the person you created me to be. Amen.”

Shelley Cunningham
Christ the King Lutheran Church, New Brighton, Minn.
Master of Divinity, 1998

With a multitude of activities cluttering our daily schedules, it is difficult to hear the still, small voice of God as He whispers His answers to our greatest needs. We gain clarity and direction when we voluntarily separate ourselves from the clamor of life, sit in God’s presence, and quietly pray.

Scripture reveals a few powerful glimpses of Jesus’ example of prayerful solitude:

• Before he called the 12 apostles to service, Jesus spent an entire night praying alone (Luke 6:12).
• In the transfiguration account, Jesus and three apostles ventured off for a time of prayer on the mountain (Luke 9:28).
• Jesus took refuge in private prayer after feeding the masses (Matt. 14:23; Mark 6:46; John 6:15).
• The most memorable account of the Messiah separating from the crowds to pray involves the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36-46). The biblical account of this moonlit prayer session reveals clues to how we can develop our own effective prayer life:

Seek God’s will – Jesus understood that the Father’s will was the most important goal (Matt. 26:39, 42; Mark 14:36). Likewise, our aim needs to be obedience to Him.
Understand the importance of time alone with God – Jesus kept praying, regardless of whether others would intercede on His behalf (Matt. 26: 43-44). Though friends and family may want to support us, we have the ultimate responsibility to personally talk to the Lord about our needs.
Wait for God’s answer – Jesus’ soul was heavy with the grief  of knowing that His crucifixion was imminent, yet He prayed three different times (Matt. 26:39-44). We must have a commitment to seek God repeatedly  in prayer.
Embrace the comfort of God – Jesus was comforted by an angel (Luke 22:43). The Father will also see to it that we are comforted in our troubles, especially when we take time to earnestly seek His answer to our problems.

Questions for Reflection
1. Do you spend time alone with God each day?

How can you improve the quality and focus of that time?

2. Jesus took His most private longings to God.

What prayers are on your heart today?

Take time to share them with the Lord in a quiet environment.

(from April 2009 issue of In Touch magazine)