In the first miracle recorded of Jesus, something remarkable happens.
For context, Jesus and His disciples were invited to a wedding celebration. During the event, the host ran out of wine, which would have been an embarrassing situation, much like running out of Jollof rice at a Nigerian party. Jesus was called upon, and He turned ordinary water into wine. Not just any wine, but the best wine served that day.
Amid the events that led to this miracle, one detail stands out in John 2:7. Jesus said, “Fill the waterpots with water.” The servants responded by filling them to the brim. It is one thing to follow an instruction. It is another to carry it out with complete commitment. Their action challenges us to examine our own attitude to instructions. Are you filling your waterpots to the brim, or are you doing only the bare minimum?
It is also important to recognise that this lesson extends beyond divine instructions. The servants who obeyed Jesus did not yet know He was divine. This was His first recorded miracle, so they had no previous reason to trust His authority. Yet they responded with excellence and complete obedience. In our own lives, instructions may come from mentors, parents, teachers, or others who hold authority and wisdom. How do you respond to them? Do you listen with intention, or do you give only partial effort because you do not fully understand the outcome?
This brings to mind a story I have shared before: the story of King Joash and Elisha in Second Kings thirteen. The king sought spiritual advantage before an impending war. Elisha instructed him to take some arrows and strike the ground. Joash struck the ground three times and stopped. Elisha became angry and said that he should have struck it five or six times. If he had done so, he would have completely defeated Aram. Instead, he would win only three battles. It was a sad outcome, not because Joash lacked strength, but because he did not realise the importance of wholehearted obedience. When an instruction carries no stated limit, stopping early can cost more than continuing.
The choice is in your hands today. Will you be like Joash, holding back and giving only partial effort, or like the servants in Cana who filled their pots to the brim with complete dedication?
The lesson is straightforward. Your reaction to guidance shows your character. Give your best. whether the instruction comes from God, from mentors, or from the trusted voices in your life. Excellence is a habit that prepares you for miracles you have not yet imagined. Have an amazing weekend.
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1 thought on “To the brim”
Excellence is a habit that prepares you for miracles you have not yet imagined.
This is so instructive, especially because like you rightly said, they obeyed not because they were expecting a miracle.
Lord, I receive the grace to go over and beyond with every divine instruction the vessel of communication notwithstanding.