PICK YOUR PARTNER

My dad always told me that the most important aspect of playing doubles in tennis is picking the right partner. I experienced his advice many times, but especially years ago, when I was invited to participate in a big charity tennis event and have as my partner Rod Laver, the greatest tennis player ever. He is the only men’s tennis player to win two Grand Slams! Wow! I just wanted to meet him—and here I had an opportunity to have him as my partner.

God offers his Son to us as our partner in playing the game of life. He is the best partner possible! He doesn’t discriminate with whom he plays. You can not only meet Him, but He wants to be your partner.

John 2 records that at the beginning of His ministry, Jesus went to a wedding. There were more guests in attendance than expected, and they ran out of wine. His mother asked Him to do something. To fulfill her request, He selected some servants as His partners.

There were six stone water pots that held about 20–30 gallons each. Jesus instructed the servants to fill the jars with water and then dip some out and take it to the master of ceremonies. The key here is that they followed His instructions. Now, get that…they followed His instructions!

When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, he didn’t know where it came from. He said, “Usually a host serves the best wine first. Then when everybody is full and doesn’t care, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best wine until now.” (John 2:10)

Here’s the simple formula—God can redefine what is possible. He can turn any water into wine. And it is not just any wine—it is the best wine!

Notice that He selected servants to participate in His very first miracle. They could have had many excuses. They knew that filling a pot with water and dipping some from the top would not prove to be wine. They didn’t overanalyze the situation—they just “obeyed His instructions.” (John 2:8)

Part of my problem is that I know that Jesus is my partner, but I’m not sure how much He can do. I begin to use human reasoning to estimate the possibilities of divine intervention. Terrible mistake!! We can overanalyze anything and limit what God wants to do.

Overanalyzing is the art of creating problems that don’t exist. It becomes the avenue to deciding that things can’t be done. The result is Paralysis by Analysis!! (Tweet this!)

The most important thing about the game of life is to pick the right partner. If Jesus took servants as His partners in His first miracle, how does Jesus want to team up with you today to do something that’s maybe even more dramatic than turning water into wine? Fill your water pots!

Your Partner is ready!