“Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions. When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!” John‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When I read this I started thinking about the water pot, the empty vessel. It was just sitting there, waiting to be filled with something. The pot was empty, incomplete, imperfect. You could say, on its own, the pot was kinda useless. But then along came Jesus. He said “Fill the pots with water.” But it wasn’t just water that filled those pots, it was the power of God. Once filled, this “water” was dipped out and shared and was declared to be the best wine yet! This empty pot, became the vessel Jesus used to deliver a miracle. Through this very ordinary, imperfect pot, the glory of Almighty God was revealed. Jesus didn’t choose the pot because it had earned anything, He chose it because it was there, waiting to be used.

I can relate to that empty water pot. Incomplete, totally imperfect, just waiting to be filled… with something. And then along came Jesus. The Bible says He chose me, not because of anything I’ve done, not because I deserve it, but because He loves me. He has filled me with His power, His Holy Spirit, and that makes me something He can use. I can be that vessel through which He reveals His glory. And so can you.

Before we can be useful to God, I believe we have to realize how weak and powerless we are without Him. We have to surrender and say, “Here I am God, fill me, use me.” We have to trust that He will bring about the best. It’s our job to take what He fills us with and share it with the world. Even when all we see is water, the best, new wine is yet to come. It’s not about the vessel, it’s all about what’s inside.