Vessels for God’s Spirit

It is my conviction that the story of the Wedding at Cana in John, chapter 4 has nothing to do with drinking wine even though it is water that Jesus turns to wine. Rather it is a story about how Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to people. In essence we are those stone jars that Jesus asks to be filled with water. It is Jesus who transforms us into people filled with God’s Spirit, or “wine.”

I notice that when I think of my mother these days some of the water in me is turning into wine. I’ve had this picture of being with my mother when she died last summer. But I didn’t know what to do with the picture. Yet, lately, a perspective has been coming to me that runs like this: “My mother was there for my first breath when she gave birth to me and I was there for her last breath.” This has helped me to view life on this earth with its limits, yet with those limits encircled by love. This feels like the water of grief turning into the wine of a new perspective. 

This is God’s way. As we prayerfully let God infiltrate our lives, blessings do come. These blessings may be a change of perspective, something we feel that must be done to right the wrongs of this world, or a whole new career. What water-turning-to-wine do you notice in your own life? What has helped you become more available to that process?

Comments

[Dick Petermann]

Vessels for God’s Spirit: AMEN! Thanks for sharing your wine with us, David. I've noticed "water-turning-to-wine" when I've been open to God's presence... sharing a scripture passage that came to mind, encouraging some who is having a bad moment, being present for another even though I may not have felt up to it, having extra time to spend in God's Word when sick, when I have followed the Holy Spirits promptings not knowing what or why. Wine seems to flow more freely as I get older. I attribute see God's presence in others lives as a major factor in becoming more available to seeing God's presence in my life. All believers have unique Spiritual Gifts to share, common vessels though we are.