The Pursuit Trap - Day 126 Month 5-6 Week 18-7
Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year)
Deuteronomy 8, Psalm 103, Jeremiah 16, John 2
The Pursuit Trap
1. Moses warned them! He said “if you ever forget the LORD your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish (Deuteronomy 8:19).” Jeremiah is told by God that this will happen in his lifetime. Jeremiah 16 tells us about all the distresses that will come upon Israel and then when they ask, God instructs Jeremiah to tell them “It is because your forefathers have forsaken Me … and have followed other gods and served them and bowed down to them (Jeremiah 16:11).” God keeps his word!
Thankfully, “the LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. (Psalm 103:8).” God tells Jeremiah He will restore Israel to their land. Why? Because God is also forgiving. It requires a change of heart but as David says in Psalm 103:11,12, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
2. “My hour has not yet come.” Then the hour did come and Jesus' ministry started. He’d already gathered His disciples who also were in attendance. Wine! The first recorded miracle of Jesus. When Syl and I watched the Chosen, probably season 1 (I highly recommend this series), they showed their interpretation of this wedding feast. Jesus was sitting at a long table surrounded by His disciples and other guests and they were laughing and having a good time. A wedding feast is a celebration after all. I don’t believe Jesus was always pious and subdued. I think Jesus knew how to have fun and the wedding of Cana shows that He could celebrate with others.
Turning water into “the good wine” would have kept the bridegroom from embarrassment and the servants saw what happened first hand but neither the bridegroom nor the headwaiter knew what had happened.
Turning water to “the good wine” makes me consider what else compares to this story. Most people are pursuing all sorts of goals in their lives. I hear many of the people that live close to me talking about their favorite truck, side by side or camp (usually a very rough cottage in the woods). People pursue money. People pursue success or beauty. I live in a scallop and lobster fishing community. Some people pursue bigger and better fishing boats. There are some very wealthy fishermen here but they are always pursuing more. Did you ever notice that when you have what you want you feel like you need more? All of the things we strive for on this earth comes down to pursuing satisfaction but then you get to that point you need more to be satisfied. This is all “water” or the “poorer wine.” We consume it, desire more, then we consume that, and we get “drunk” on the endless need to get more. Then Jesus shows up. Jesus is “the good wine.” The cool thing is Jesus desires us and He can fulfill our desires! We just need to accept His offer to enter His kingdom.
Now you may say that you know of Jesus followers who are always pursuing more on this earth. I can be described that way at times. When I thought I needed a new truck, what was I looking at? A brand new Toyota Sequoia! $100,000 plus! God reminded me that all I needed was a truck, so He got my old Honda one fixed. The life of a Jesus follower is prone to temptation. To keep our perspective, we need to stay in constant relationship with Jesus. That’s why it’s imperative we spend time in prayer and listening to Jesus daily. When we stray, all of the old temptations rear their ugly heads!
The lesson for today? Accept Jesus' offer to enter His kingdom!
Have a great day
Steve
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