There is an adage that says, "the first sign of insanity is doing the same thing over again and expecting different results."
In other words if you tried doing something one way and it didn't work no matter how many times you do it it still won't work you must change things. As humans, change is difficult for us. We don't like it. We fear it. It makes us feel uncomfortable. If you are longing for more, if you desire to achieve better or greater it will not happen by doing the same things over and over again. You must do something new.
There is a law in science called entropy. Basically it means that everything eventually turns to ruin; metal will rust, wood will rot, our bodies grow old and will turn to dust. This law is the best that our world system can offer us. However, the good news is God's law is higher. Jesus was trying to help the people in Israel to get a grasp on God's higher law.
Luke 5:33 - 38
And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” 36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good. ’”
The ways of the Pharisees had become so burdensome, they began missing the point behind God's plan and purpose for the law. Our own righteousness and our own works don't draw us any closer to God, in fact they can lead us away from Him if we place our trust in them rather than God. Feasting and fasting, new patch on an old garment, and new wine in old wine skins are all showing that Jesus' ways and those of the Pharisee's will never be able to work together.
How does this apply to us? All of us have a nature that is based on our fleshly wants and desires. When we come to Christ often we bring that old nature with us and expect God to bless it. We can't lie and expect God's blessing. We can't manipulate people and expect God's blessing. We can't be arrogant, prideful, insecure or any of the other ways we functioned in our old nature and expect God's blessing. We have become new and we need to act like we are new.
If we carry over the old nature then what will happen is our way will not bless God but lead us to destruction. There is always a tearing between our old nature and what God wants when we try to mix. Our ways do not honor God, nor will we be fulfilled. The Lord's plan is that we fulfill the dreams and desires that are on our hearts. He has placed those dreams there and they will only be fulfilled as we trust Him.
Where are you today? Have you reached a frustration with your life. Have you found yourself in a place where you are wondering what is going on with your life? Are you filling empty? Perhaps it is time for you to step back and ask the Lord if you are trying to mix your old ways with the new way of freedom the Lord wants you to walk. Ask the Lord to show you your heart and His plan. He can make you into a new wineskin and a fresh garment. Let Him have his way in you and through you. You will be amazed at what God can do!
In other words if you tried doing something one way and it didn't work no matter how many times you do it it still won't work you must change things. As humans, change is difficult for us. We don't like it. We fear it. It makes us feel uncomfortable. If you are longing for more, if you desire to achieve better or greater it will not happen by doing the same things over and over again. You must do something new.
There is a law in science called entropy. Basically it means that everything eventually turns to ruin; metal will rust, wood will rot, our bodies grow old and will turn to dust. This law is the best that our world system can offer us. However, the good news is God's law is higher. Jesus was trying to help the people in Israel to get a grasp on God's higher law.
Luke 5:33 - 38
And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” 36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good. ’”
The ways of the Pharisees had become so burdensome, they began missing the point behind God's plan and purpose for the law. Our own righteousness and our own works don't draw us any closer to God, in fact they can lead us away from Him if we place our trust in them rather than God. Feasting and fasting, new patch on an old garment, and new wine in old wine skins are all showing that Jesus' ways and those of the Pharisee's will never be able to work together.
How does this apply to us? All of us have a nature that is based on our fleshly wants and desires. When we come to Christ often we bring that old nature with us and expect God to bless it. We can't lie and expect God's blessing. We can't manipulate people and expect God's blessing. We can't be arrogant, prideful, insecure or any of the other ways we functioned in our old nature and expect God's blessing. We have become new and we need to act like we are new.
If we carry over the old nature then what will happen is our way will not bless God but lead us to destruction. There is always a tearing between our old nature and what God wants when we try to mix. Our ways do not honor God, nor will we be fulfilled. The Lord's plan is that we fulfill the dreams and desires that are on our hearts. He has placed those dreams there and they will only be fulfilled as we trust Him.
Where are you today? Have you reached a frustration with your life. Have you found yourself in a place where you are wondering what is going on with your life? Are you filling empty? Perhaps it is time for you to step back and ask the Lord if you are trying to mix your old ways with the new way of freedom the Lord wants you to walk. Ask the Lord to show you your heart and His plan. He can make you into a new wineskin and a fresh garment. Let Him have his way in you and through you. You will be amazed at what God can do!
