Two stories where Jesus declares his glory (vs. 2:11,4:26). In one he performs a miracle, and in one he just has a conversation. One is at a public party, one is a private discussion. In one He is a reluctant participant, and the other He initiates the action. In both He declares His glory. In both faith is produced. In one faith is produced in His disciples, in the other faith is produced in a new believer (read the rest of chapter 4). When God is glorified He is pleased and lives are changed. I have heard it said that it is amazing to see what can be accomplished when we don't care who gets the credit. It is more amazing to see what can happen when we rightly give God the credit He deserves. I make that my prayer.
"God may I look for opportunities to brag on you, focus attention on your goodness, and help others to see your glory. God it can't be that hard. After all your glory fills the heavens. . . . The truth is I need to repent for blocking your glory. For wanting people to recognize me as significant or special instead of you. Forgive my selfish attempts to glorify myself. It is more importsnt for my kids, and my wife, and my freinds, and the church members I serve to see you as great than to see me as great. God you deserve all glory especially in my life. Help me to make that happen." (That is not the way I saw that prayer going when I started.)
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Shawn, your prayer is a courageous one. It is so difficult to put aside our selfish desires and glorify God.
ReplyDeleteA thought I had on reading about the water to wine miracle is that it is so sad that our upbringing and the world has taught us to be so cynical and to believe almost nothing that we don't see with our own eyes, and I guess that was true even in biblical times, so maybe it is just human nature? Even the disciples struggled with believing until they saw Jesus perform miracles.
As surely as I believe there will be a tomorrow, I believe that Jesus is Lord of all, yet I still crave a miracle that would be burned into my heart as "proof" that He lives and loves me. Faith, by definition, is belief that doesn't rest on logical proof or material evidence. So why do I struggle with doubts and fears?
Lord, please strenthen my faith and help me to look to the heavens as proof of your grace and glory, and forgive my feeble doubting nature.
In reading the interaction between Jesus and the Samaratian women I am reminded how intimate Jesus is. He desires to spend time with us, even those of us who everyone else says doesn't deserve the time of day. He broke all politically correct boundaries and reached out to a hurting women. (who obiviously didn't expect it) I am grateful that I serve a God who reched out to (coming to earth to die for me)instead of me having to work my ways to him through earthly means.
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