What was Jesus attempting to teach these new converts, these disciples, it certainly went beyond a lesson in fasting. It was a time of newness, a time of fulfillment, it signaled the ending of an era. Any attempt to attach the newness of the gospel to old religion or law was as futile as attempting to put a fresh and new wine into and old wineskin. As new wine ferments and expands, the old wineskin, inflexible having been stretched and worn out by use would break and spill the new and better.
Jesus the bringer of Grace and truth, brings a new era with new ways, revealing the new wine needs a new wineskin
As we move into 2013, we continue to rejoice in our “New Season”. We run headlong into 2013 with a deeper, broader, more wonderful revelation of His grace. I feel the Holy Spirit at our back, with the father and son encouraging us onward and upward. Like a blustery autumn day, with kids running through the park, reveling in freshness of abundant life.
I sense for our family, not only a new day, a new year and a new season, but A New You. Allow the Godhead’s wind to blow mightily at you back, pushing us into a deeper revelation and fulfillment of His call to us. His grace is more than enough, a deeper revelation of a father who accepts you completely because of what His Son has done.
This is where we need to learn to accept His abundant grace, and not allow ourselves the devastation of internal dialogue, of am I good enough?, did he really say?, are His promises about me true?. the answers are all Yes and Amen, in Christ Jesus. When self doubt invades your mind, and your position appears insecure, and you feel so unworthy. Ponder our little friend the mosquito, one of the smallest, almost invisible; often heard before seen creatures.
“If you think you are too small or insignificant to have any impact, spend an hour in a dark room with a mosquito.’
God has a plan and a purpose for a NEW YOU……..
Let us run this race together “a new you, because Jesus has qualified you”. Be a young Isaiah who put up his hand and said here I am. Is your heart moved, like that of Nehemiah over the state of Jerusalem!! A New You. The passion of a vengeful Pharisee, that is knocked off a donkey, as he comes face to face with Jesus, a New You ! A new revelation of a tax collector who leaves his booth, or some fishermen who left their boats, and down through the tunnels of history a myriad of saints the world over, willing to die for their faith. A New You !!!!
I love the deep truths of Paul in Philippi; there are two significant people he meets, a business woman Lydia, and a jailer, both from extreme walks of life,(for the day), yet both having been introduced to the person of Jesus, they become ” A NEW YOU”, and their response to the gospel of grace is mirrored through different circumstances. They first open their hearts to the Gospel, and then open their homes to the traveling companions.
What a metamorphosis, of peoples lives changed through the Gospel, open hearts, open homes, a welcoming of the gospel of grace. A NEW YOU.