It Seems So Simple to Do

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” John 2:1-5

A few years ago, I read a fascinating book entitled Joker One. It is the story of a Marine Platoon that served in Iraq in 2004. These Marines were in some of the toughest house-to-house fighting in the war in Iraq.

One of the things that allows the Marine Corps to be so effective in this type of intense fighting is their preparation and leadership. When Marines are told to do something, they do not hesitate. They have been trained to follow the order of their commanding officer immediately. Whatever he says, they do. Wherever he goes, they follow.

In God's timing, shortly after I finished reading Joker One, I received an article entitled “Follow the Leader”. It was as if the Lord was saying to me, “I am connecting the dots for you, Glen, to apply a principle from Joker One to your walk with Me.” Here is an excerpt from that short article:

Married couples have a leader to follow as well. Certainly there are divine roles assigned to both husband and wife in regard to leadership, but both husband and wife need to submit to the voice of their Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

I don't think it's an accident that the first recorded miracle of Jesus takes place at a wedding. Part way through the wedding party, the unthinkable happens: they run out of wine! Jesus responds to his mother's request, who obviously knows who He is and what He is capable of, and proceeds to turn water into wine.

But what happens in the middle of this famous story is of interest. Knowing that her son is about to perform a miracle, Mary says to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” Then Jesus gave some specific instructions to the servants: 1) Fill the water pots with water, 2) Draw some out, 3) Take it to the headwaiter. The servants followed their instructions, the headwaiter approved, and the party came back to life.

Married life may come with its own unexpected surprises. After the first year of your marriage, you and your new spouse receive a hefty tax bill instead of a refund. Your in-laws move in weeks after your wedding. A young child who was happy growing up suddenly reaches adolescence and challenges everything you say. It's at times like these I would remind you of Mary's wise words: “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

Following Jesus is not a part-time endeavor. Staying tuned to the sound of His voice and obedient to His call makes all the difference between marital bliss and marital disaster.” (1)

As I pondered these words, I was struck by the simplicity of Mary's words: Whatever He says to you, do it. Can it really be that simple? The Lord brought a few verses to mind for me.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me”. John 10:27
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Luke 6:46.
“Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him." John 14:21

There is no substitute for obedience. If you are a Marine, not obeying your commanding officer can cost you your life, or the life of your fellow Marine. In your marriage as a husband or wife, not obeying the Lord can cost you your marriage and your family. The choice is up to you and to me.

SUGGESTED PRAYER: Jesus, I hear the words of Your mother “Whatever He says to you, do it”, and I am reminded that my call as Your disciple is to follow and obey. Lord, I desire to follow You wholeheartedly, but my sinful selfishness sometimes holds me back. Forgive me, Lord, for not obeying You. Help me to be filled and controlled by Your Spirit so that I can have the power to obey and follow. In the Name of Jesus!

Sources:

(1) Material quoted from Tony Evan’s article “Follow the Leader”. Find out more at www.tonyevans.org

Photo from www.Marines.mil, Cpl. Amaia Unanue

It Seems So Simple to Do

Recent Posts

Comments