“No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak, for the patch pulls away from the cloak, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved” (Matthew 9:16-17).
Common sense is common sense. Jesus is telling us that He is giving us something that requires us to be made new. He will make us new if we co-operate. What this means is that when you insist on clinging to the old you, you are resisting what Jesus has come to do. He changed the water into wine. He will change us to become children of the Heavenly Father. Jesus is telling the Pharisees what He has come to do.
Lord, You know that I have all kinds of excuses. On the one hand, I know that You need to make changes in me and on the other, I resist those changes. Your humor gets to me because as I become older, I am changed whether I like it or not. Lord, I realize I do need to be completed by You. Lead me in the way You know I need to go and make me ready to accept whatever You know is going to happen.
Lord Jesus, the old Adam needs to die as I bear my cross. You are my Savior and You know what I need to become. Guide me in the way You know I need to go. Help me to become ready for what You have prepared for both me and all who love You. In all things, be the author and finisher of my faith, and lead me the way You know I need to be led. Thank You, Jesus, for all that You have done for our sakes. Amen.
