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I know some Christians that occasionally like to bang on Catholicism, mostly for the way that Mary is elevated. My response to anyone that starts in on Catholic bashing is a verse from John's Gospel, from the story of the marriage supper, where Jesus turned water into wine. Here is Mary, Jesus' mother, encapsulating the entire Kingdom of God in one short statement.
John 2:5: His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
Notice: she told the servants. If you are a servant of Jesus, her message is for you. It is sound advice for any situation, and can be applied every day of your life. “Whatever He says to you, do it.” How on earth could anyone fault her for saying that?
What remains is how to hear from Him. This following familiar passage helps us to understand how, without really making it any easier to do:
Romans 12:1-2: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Picture an Old Testament sacrifice. A butchered bull being heaved up onto the altar of burnt offering under the burning sun of the desert. The animal is slain, its blood (life) spilled in order to make an atonement of some sort, after which time it is consumed in the fire. Now picture that sacrifice being left alive, but placed on a consuming altar, there to live, continually providing service; a sacrifice in a perpetual state of being offered up to God.
Paul is telling us that we need to live in just that way — our body in a perpetual state of being surrendered to God instead of to our own passions and drives. When I live unto myself, being motivated by my own passions, I make myself my god. I prove my own will, and nothing more. I am conformed to the way of this world, since this manner of living is what the world promotes.
But a servant, by definition, sets aside his life and desires for those of his master. When I voluntarily set aside my desires, and seek to hear from God, it is a death, a sacrifice. If you don't think it so, just try it: willfully choose to find out what God wants you to do today instead of doing whatever pleases you at the moment. If you are interested in doing “whatever He says to you” then this is the route — a death route. Ironically, this “death route” is the only route to eternal life (i.e. knowing Jesus).
So, why would I post this under “Beginnings”?
John 2:11: This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
This event at the marriage signified the beginning of His miracles, the beginning of his ministry. And yet, He had been prepared from the day He was born. Likewise, we, as the Body, have gone through a lifetime (the Church Age, from His resurrection until now) of preparation. And now, there is a shift in attitude taking place, a huge step forward.
Gone are the days of gliding through life, calling ourselves Christian and doing whatever pleases us at the moment, convinced that God “loves us anyway,” waiting to die and go to Heaven. That describes the life of a spiritual baby. God loves babies, just like most of us do. You don’t expect any serious level of maturity from a newborn.
But there comes a time for the baby to grow, and to assume some responsibility. Moment-by-moment contact with the King is the life of the mature saint. It is a life of explosive possibilities. It’s what we’ve been prepared for. He has kept the good wine for now!
For those intrepid enough to take God up on His Word, this is truly just the beginning.
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