Author: Larry Grays

In the late 1800s, Edward Kimball, a quiet Sunday School teacher, felt burdened to talk to a teenage boy in his class about Jesus. Nervously, he visited the young man at the shoe store where he worked. That simple, obedient conversation led to the boy’s salvation. His name? Dwight L. Moody became one of the most influential evangelists of the 19th century, preaching to over 100 million people. But the story didn’t stop there. Moody’s ministry influenced F.B. Meyer, who impacted Wilbur Chapman, who led Billy Sunday to Christ. Sunday’s preaching later influenced Mordecai Ham—who preached the message that brought Billy Graham to faith. One quiet act of obedience—by a forgotten shoe store visitor—set off a chain reaction that changed millions of lives (Culbertson, Moody: A Biography).

John 2:11 shows us how Jesus’ glory was revealed not through a loud sermon but through faithful obedience at a wedding. It was behind the scenes, in the shadows—but it led to belief. What you do may not look like a miracle. But when you obey, God uses your actions to point others to Him. It might be your kindness, your consistency, your courage, or your compassion. You never know who’s watching—or how God might use you to light someone’s path to Jesus.

Reflection Questions:

1. Is there someone around you who might see Jesus through your obedience?
   
   
2. How can you live with eternity in mind today?
   
   

Prayer:

Lord, help me remember that no act of faith is wasted. Use my life, my choices, and even my small steps to reveal Your glory and lead others to believe. Amen.

In 2000, Pastor Mark Batterson and a small team began praying around Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., asking God to open doors for ministry. They felt called to launch a church—but nothing seemed to move quickly. For months, they walked and prayed with no building, no congregation, and no budget. Years later, God led them to purchase and renovate a dilapidated 1930s movie theater called The Miracle Theatre. That location became the heart of National Community Church—one of the most influential churches in D.C. today. Batterson later wrote, “God’s delays are not His denials. They’re a test of our trust” (Draw the Circle).

Jesus told Mary His time had not yet come. To us, that might sound like a “no.” But it wasn’t a refusal—it was a reminder that the when matters as much as the what. We often want a microwave miracle, but God is more of a slow-roast Savior. His timing is tied to His glory.

You may be waiting on an answer, a breakthrough, or direction. Take heart: God’s clock is never late. He’s always working behind the scenes—even when it feels like He’s holding back. God’s best comes in God’s time.

Reflection Questions:

1. What is one area where you’re struggling to wait on God?

2. How can you stay faithful while you wait?

Prayer:
Father, teach me to trust Your timing. Even when I don’t see progress, help me believe You’re preparing the best. I surrender my schedule to Your sovereignty. Amen.

Have you ever tried to bake cookies without following the recipe? “Flour, sugar, eggs… what could go wrong?” But what if you forget the sugar? The result? Chocolate chip biscuits that taste like drywall. The right outcome requires the right obedience!

In John 2, Jesus gives the servants a curious command: fill the jars with water. Not wine. Not grape juice concentrate. Just plain water. But here’s the key—they did it anyway. They didn’t argue. They didn’t ask for a better plan. They followed His instructions, even when it didn’t make sense.

Obedience is where many of us get stuck. We want Jesus to work, but we hesitate to obey. We want the wine without the water jars. But faith doesn’t work that way. God often asks for our obedience before He reveals the outcome. The servants filled the jars—and filled them to the brim. That’s not halfway obedience. That’s all in. And what came next? Transformation. The water turned to wine. The ordinary became a blessing.

God’s not looking for perfect people. He’s looking for obedient ones. When we trust Him enough to do the simple thing—go, serve, forgive, give, pray—He shows up with supernatural power.

Reflection Questions:

1. Is there a simple act of obedience you’ve been putting off?

2. How can you obey God wholeheartedly, not halfway?

Prayer:
Lord, help me trust You even when I don’t understand. Give me the faith to obey, even in the small things, knowing You bring the transformation. Amen.

A guy once tried to fix his garbage disposal using advice from the internet. He jammed a wooden spoon in the drain and blew a fuse in the whole house. Why? Because he followed some instructions—but not the right ones. Listening matters!

This story of Jesus at the wedding reveals another layer of His character. Not only is He present, but He is speaking. Mary, His mother, understood this. She didn’t panic. She didn’t call Costco. She turned to the only One who could solve the problem and simply said, “Do whatever He tells you.”

It’s one thing to want to hear from God. It’s another to be willing to do what He says. And often, the real issue isn’t that God is silent—the problem is that we’re not listening, or at least not listening with a willingness to obey.

When Jesus says, “My time has not yet come,” He’s reminding Mary—and us—that He operates on a divine timeline. But that didn’t stop Mary from trusting that something good was about to happen. She gave the servants the best wedding advice anyone could give: “Do whatever He tells you.”

Are you willing to take that same advice today? Sometimes, God’s instructions don’t make sense at first glance. They may sound inconvenient, uncomfortable, or even illogical. But obedience always precedes the blessing.

Reflection Questions:

1. Have you been ignoring any prompts from God lately?

2. What would doing “whatever He tells you” look like this week?

Prayer:
Father, I want to be a better listener. Give me ears to hear and a heart ready to obey. Help me trust that Your instructions lead to life. Amen.

At first glance, this passage feels like a simple RSVP—Jesus attended a wedding. But tucked inside these two verses is a profound truth: God cares about the everyday moments of our lives. He doesn’t just show up in crises, but at celebrations, dinners, soccer games, and graduation parties.

There is something deeply comforting about knowing Jesus didn’t distance Himself from community. He wasn’t just about miracles and messages—He was about moments. And this moment at Cana reminds us that He isn’t limited to the sacred. He steps into the social.

Jesus’ presence at the wedding redefines how we see God. He’s not distant. He’s not disengaged. He’s invited. But here’s the catch—He doesn’t crash the party. You’ve got to invite Him in.

You and I often compartmentalize faith: “This is church time. This is work time. This is family time.” But Jesus doesn’t work within our categories. He wants access to all of it. Whether you’re planning a wedding or folding laundry, His presence makes the ordinary extraordinary. If He showed up in Cana, He can show up in Acworth. The question isn’t whether He’s willing—it’s whether we invite Him into the details.

Reflection Questions:

1. Where in your daily routine have you unintentionally left Jesus out?

2. What’s one area you can intentionally invite Him into this week?

Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for showing up in ordinary places. Remind me that You care about the details of my life. Help me to see You in my everyday, and give me the courage to invite You into every part of my story. Amen.

Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a respected ruler, sought Jesus under the cloak of night. Fear and curiosity warred within him. He had witnessed Jesus’ miracles, heard His profound teachings, and felt a stirring in his soul. “How can these things be?” he questioned, grappling with the concept of being born again.

Jesus’ words, like seeds in fertile ground, began to sprout—though hidden from the harsh light of his peers’ judgment. The night symbolized his internal struggle, the wrestling between tradition and the allure of something new.

Time passed, and the seeds grew. When the Sanhedrin condemned Jesus, Nicodemus dared to speak—a flicker of defiance against the gathering darkness. His voice, though perhaps trembling, offered a defense, a plea for justice.

Then, at the foot of the cross, Nicodemus emerged fully into the light. With Joseph of Arimathea, he brought spices—a lavish display of devotion—and helped lay Jesus’ body in the tomb. The night’s uncertainty had yielded to the day’s boldness. Nicodemus’ journey from secret inquiry to a public act of faith was complete.

Reflection:

• In what ways is your faith becoming more public?
• What step can you take to move from curiosity to commitment?

Suggested Prayer:

Jesus, I don’t want to be a secret believer. Grant me the courage to follow You boldly and with joy. Amen.

A seasoned sailor can prepare his boat—hoist the sails, check the rigging, and position the rudder—but without the wind, the boat remains motionless. No amount of rowing, pushing, or wishing can generate the power of the wind.

Jesus told Nicodemus that spiritual birth works the same way: “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8, ESV). Just as the wind moves the boat in ways beyond the sailor’s control, spiritual rebirth is solely the work of the Holy Spirit. We cannot manufacture it; we can only surrender to it.

Nicodemus, who craved logical clarity, was challenged to understand that the Spirit works beyond human prediction. This verse teaches us that faith involves trusting in a dynamic, unpredictable power rather than relying on our own calculations. It reminds us that our attempts to control spiritual outcomes are futile and that true transformation comes from surrendering to God’s sovereign, unseen work in our lives.

Allow yourself to be surprised by God’s work, even when it defies your plans. Choose to trust His timing, even in uncertain circumstances.

Reflection:

• Have you ever sensed the Holy Spirit leading you in an unexpected direction?
• What is one way you can be more open to the movement of God’s Spirit in your life?

Suggested Prayer:

God, help me to trust Your Spirit’s work, even when I don’t understand. I surrender my plans to You. Amen.

A world-famous sculptor once attempted to create the most lifelike statue ever carved. He chiseled every detail with precision—the folds of the skin, the depth of the eyes, even the veins beneath the surface. When completed, it looked stunningly real. A crowd gathered in awe, but when someone whispered, “Come to life,” nothing happened. No matter how perfect the statue, it remained lifeless—because only God can give life.

In the same way, religion, morality, or effort can make us appear spiritually alive, but only the Spirit can truly bring us to life (John 3:5–6). Jesus declares that spiritual rebirth is not manufactured by human effort but is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Nicodemus, a man of logic and tradition, struggled with the concept of being “born again”—a mystery that defies natural experience.

Jesus’ words challenge us to recognize that genuine transformation arises from divine intervention rather than self-made efforts. This passage invites us to surrender our self-reliance and embrace a renewal that is essential for entering God’s Kingdom and experiencing eternal life. Let go of self-reliance and seek His renewing power daily. Surrender your personal efforts and allow God to mold you into His image.

Reflection:

• Have you ever tried to change yourself instead of allowing God to transform you?
• What does being “born again” mean in your life?

Suggested Prayer:

Holy Spirit, I surrender my efforts to You. Transform me from the inside out. Amen.

This passage teaches that Jesus is not merely an admired teacher but the divine Savior who descended from heaven. His comparison to Moses lifting the bronze snake illustrates that faith in Him brings life and healing. Nicodemus, initially captivated by Jesus’ wisdom, is challenged to move from mere admiration to an intimate, transformative relationship that grants eternal life. The text calls us to embrace a deeper commitment—one that transforms our hearts rather than just our minds.

C.S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity, uses the analogy of a man building a house. He argues that Christianity isn’t just about accepting a set of intellectual propositions, like agreeing that two plus two equals four. “The difference is that in the first case [mathematics], you have only got to understand, whereas in the second [Christianity], you have got to do something. It is more like learning to swim than learning about swimming. You throw yourself into the water. And in Christianity, you have to throw yourself, in a sense, on Christ.”

Reflect on whether you are simply reciting words or truly experiencing Jesus’ saving power. Pursue a relationship with Christ that goes beyond intellectual admiration. Let His sacrifice inspire you to live a life marked by genuine commitment.

Reflection:

• Do you see Jesus only as a teacher, or have you embraced Him as your Savior?
• How can you move from admiration to a committed faith as you embrace Jesus as Lord?

Suggested Prayer:

Jesus, You are more than a teacher—you are my Savior. Help me not just to learn about You but to truly trust in You. Amen.

Nicodemus, a respected Pharisee, visited Jesus secretly at night, driven by genuine curiosity yet constrained by fear of public judgment. His covert approach reveals an inner conflict—a yearning for truth versus the burden of cultural expectations. Jesus’ miraculous signs and profound teachings challenged Nicodemus to rethink his understanding of faith. This encounter invites us to examine our own hesitations in pursuing spiritual truth and to approach Christ with sincerity, even when fear tempts us to remain in the shadows.

Pastor Tim Keller, in a 2018 sermon, humorously recounted a Sunday school boy who earnestly asked, “If Jesus lives in my heart, does that mean He’s got a VIP section?” The teacher’s witty reply—that Jesus must have a separate lounge—sparked laughter while revealing spiritual depth. This amusing anecdote reminds us that even simple questions can unlock profound truths. It challenges us to pursue our inquiries with both humility and humor, trusting that God welcomes our honest, childlike curiosity.

Examine your life for areas where fear keeps you from seeking deeper truth. Commit to spending quiet time with God, asking honest questions about your faith. Share your journey with a trusted friend or mentor so you can grow together.

Reflection:

• Have you ever hesitated to ask spiritual questions? Why?
• What area of your faith remains unexplored?

Suggested Prayer:

God, help me seek truth boldly and overcome my fears to embrace You fully. Amen.