NorthStar Church Blog

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.