Making the Ordinary Extraordinary

We talked last week about God’s name for you. In this weeks Isaiah 62 passage it talks about giving Israel a new name. Comparing Israel to an unmarried woman who feels forsaken, he gives the name “My Delight Is In Her.” No longer is she desolate but he tells how they will become a crown of beauty and a royal diadem. The land of Israel will be like a woman married, and as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride – so shall God rejoice over them.

God not only takes the rejected, forsaken, and desolate but also the ordinary to become royal princesses of God.

In the story of Jesus first miracle, Jesus takes something quite ordinary – water, but turns it into wine – not just Two Buck Chuck, but as the steward says here – the best wine.

This got me thinking about how God can take the ordinary and make it extraordinary. Think about rocks turning into gems, and an oyster’s irritant turning into pearls. God makes grapes to grow by providing sun and rainwater and gives wisdom to the winemakers to process them into wine.

Everyday miracles surround us everyday. A simple smile or compliment can make someone’s day. A little word of encouragement can help someone out of the blues.

God can take the rough times of our lives, when we feel forsaken and bring us through them like God did for the Israelites in their captivity, bringing us spiritual growth. God can bring us through times of drought, disappointment, grief, and struggles to make our lives better than before with lessons learned and wisdom acquired. 

Aging us like fine wine – of which he makes the best. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Job’s Restoration/David’s Redemption

  Job 42:1-6, 10-17; Psalms 34:1-8, 19-22   After Job has a long talk from God, Job answers acknowledging his own lack of knowledge compared with God’s. He talks about uttering things he did not understand. Now after hearing and seeing God he repents in dust and ashes. What is his reward for this humility? God not only delivers him from all his troubles, but God restores his fortunes twice as much as he had before. He lives till 140 seeing four generations. In the 34 th Psalm, David praises God for deliverance from trouble. He addresses the myth that the righteous have no troubles – just ask Job. David says in verse 19 that many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord will rescue them from them all. He brings up the point, however, that God is with us during our struggles. This suffering soul cried out and was heard by God who saved him from every trouble. He tells how the angel of the Lord surrounds those who fear him and delivers them. Verse 8 talks about t...
Read more

Wiping Away Tears

  Isaiah 25:6-9, Revelation 21:1-5a   It was hard choosing which two Lectionary readings to write on this week. The gospel story of the Rising of Lazarus is one of my favorites. But since I’ve touched on that account in the past I was drawn to the Isaiah and Revelation passages that talk about wiping away tears. Isaiah prophecies of a time to come where the Lord of Hosts will make a feast of the best foods for all people. Earlier in verse 4 it tells how the enemies of the Lord will be defeated and the poor, needy, and distressed championed. Then it is said that the Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces and disgrace will be removed. Not only this great feast for all but the Lord will swallow up death forever. Salvation has come to those who have waited on the Lord. Instead of tears they will be glad and rejoice in God’s salvation. In Revelation we have John’s vision of God’s final salvation coming. He sees a new heaven and a new earth. A voice tells him this is the...
Read more

Reverent Submission II

Mark 10:35-45, Hebrews 5:1-10 In the gospel of Mark, James and John ask Jesus if they could have the high status of sitting next to Christ in glory. In answer Christ asks the question of whether they can drink the cup – basically go through the same suffering Jesus will go through and be metaphorically baptized by fire like Christ will be. To this they reply yes. Jesus confirms that they will actually do so – little do they realize what this will mean. However, he can not appoint who will sit next to him, only God can. The other ten disciples when they hear of this arrogance of James and John become angry with them. Jesus turns this into a teaching moment turning the hierarchy of the world upside down. He says he who wants to be great must be a servant. In regard to James and John wanting first place in the seating Christ says who ever wishes to be first must be a slave of all. He hits them with a surprising sentence – something they didn’t expect. It is that he, the Son of Man, ca...
Read more