thoughts on Wineskins

       Jesus said that we have to put new wine in new wine skins.  If we use the old ones they will burst.  He offers so much that is new, fresh, abundant, full,meaningful.  There is nothing better than life in Christ, both walking with God and living in the new way He teaches us.  Why is it so hard?

       I think it is hard because it is so difficult to give up the old.  When someone tells me they are going to start coming to Church and haven’t been.  i know it is going to be hard.  They are going to have to give up what they normally do on Sunday morning; or at the very least find some other time to do that.  As I write this it is 6:30 Saturday morning.  I am doing this as part of a devotional time.  But it is taking a concerted effort to not turn the TV on and flip from fox news and CNN to see what’s going on in the world;  not that the information I will gain is going to help me or anyone else.

Our Habits often own us, control us, dominate us, even own us more than our faith, values, and beliefs.  Addictions, Television, food, ETC.  Those habits become comfortable, known, familiar, patterns we easily fall prey to that often prevent the new from taking hold in our lives, things we do that control our future before God can give us a fuller one.  Can I find time to pray and connect with God.  What do I give up?  Can I find time to go to Church consistently?  What do I give up?  Can I find time to connect to my wife, family, friends, those important to me?  What do I give up?  Can I find time to serve, bless, love, and make a difference in the lives of others.  What do I give up?  If we did a careful inventory most of us would find our lives are full of things that really don’t count

 for very much, things that do not reflect our faith in Christ, or even who we really are.  Where does it begin?  What are we really willing to give up?

When I purchased my motorcycle a few years ago I made a very easy decision.  My little car made its way into the driveway.  The motorcycle gets the coveted garage spot.  What do we really care about?  To make room for the new that Jesus is calling us to, we have to begin moving out the old.