“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” — Jesus
Summary: Times are hard. Jesus is the answer.
Every year about this time, God gives us two wonderful gifts. The first is the opportunity to celebrate the birth of his Son, Jesus Christ. The second is another new year.
Personally, I am almost as glad for the second gift as I was for the first. This past year was, well, not the best year I can remember. I have been trying to wrap my head around this past year, and I am sorry to say that it has been difficult to do. You see, it is not just one thing that has made it difficult. It is many.
On a personal level, I have dealt with several struggles. There is no need to go into them here because we all have personal struggles. No two people have the same. We all get to wrestle with a custom-designed program of self-improvement called “struggles.”
On a social level, our country and the world have been struggling through a second year of what has been called a “pandemic.” Who remembers “15 days to slow the spread”? That was the battle cry when the news of the illness became national news in March 2020. That message was clear, simple, and easy to understand. It was an easy pill to swallow and most of us did. We believed the government would abide by their part of the bargain and leave it at fifteen days.
Nope.
Two years later, we are watching a confusing mix of messages from various sources. Some states are “locked down” while others are acting like nothing is wrong. What is that all about?
Then there is the tendency of some people to believe that they have the right to censor what other people say or do. What???
What country are we living in again?
Instead of pulling together to help each other through this situation, people seem to be pulling apart. We are breaking up into camps and taking sides. Being an American is no longer a point of pride, it is a point of contention.
God has given us a great gift: a New Year. It is an opportunity to start afresh. We can shake off the pain and doubt of the old year and refocus on what is really important. And what is important? Jesus says:
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15: 12)
And what is love? In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he provides us with a beautiful description of what Jesus is talking about.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7)
My hope for you and me this coming year is that we can love each other. Not just for my sake, and not just for yours, but for Jesus’ sake. He asks this one thing of us, to love each other as he loves us. Is that so hard?
Well … yes. Actually, it is. But it is worth it, and it certainly beats the alternatives.
Happy New Year, and may your new year be blessed with a heart that overflows with abundant love from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Application: You know what it is… Love one another! 🙂
Food for Thought: What will happen to us if we cling to the old wineskin of last year and try and pour the new wine of 2022 into it?
It is good to live in the present and look to the future promises of the Lord. All we need to remember of the past is the cross, the resurrection and the truth of His word. Psalm 103: 11 – 13 gives us permission to forgive ourselves, as the Lord has forgiven His children’s confessed sins. It would be unnecessary to cling to that which God has released. And Ephesians 4: 31 – 32 commands us to let go of those sins committed against us – in the same way that God has forgiven us. Not easy to do, but it is freeing. Matthew 6: 25 – 34 is a good passage to reflect on as we leave last year behind and look at the year ahead.
Thank you for these devotions brother.
Happy New Year to you all.
Brother Rich,
Thank you for your faithfulness in being here every day. You have been and continue to be a faithful brother in the Lord and an encouragement here at the blog. Your responses always reflect a deep understanding and knowledge of God’s Scriptures. Thank you!
I completely agree about living in the present and keeping our eyes on Jesus. Well said!
We should try to love one another. It is unfortunate that many in our society have decided on a policy of non-tolerance toward anyone who disagrees with their positions on a variety of issues.
These individuals, supported by powerful government institutions and media can rather effectively shut down the speech or choices of any who have come to different conclusions.
It is nice to call for civil discussion and respect, however this ignores the dogmatism and commitment to destroy any who oppose them.
People may desire peace, but at a certain point, one must acknowledge that key freedoms must be defended of will be undermined or lost forever.
All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for silence, no action, or fear of reprisal to win out.
There are times when courage and prudent consideration of long term consequences are required to protect fundamental values, rights, and protections.
We strive to be loving, thoughtful, considerate, and desire harmony and peace. There are times certain things must be fought to defend. There can be no acquiescence, coddling, or peace with wrong or evil.
When Britain’s Chamberlain decided to pursue a policy of appeasement toward Hitler and other Facist regimes it did not result in peace and harmony. Rather the forces of evil were given more time to become stronger and do more damage.
Allowing wrong and evil to grow, if within the law it can be resisted is a much better course of action. The values and principles being sought to preserve are worth it.
We have a Constitution, Bill of Rights, and a history of freedoms ensconced in common law since the Magna Charta which are worth protecting.
May I respectfully submit only vigilance, courage, and strength are an adequate response. Appeasement or attempting peace with wrong or evil is not possible.
Isaiah 5:20 says “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil.”
May I note, there is quite a lot of this going on in our world today.
Requesting Love or Harmony with those who want nothing to do with them is not possible.
Jeffrey,
Thank you for joining us this morning! I appreciate you sharing your thoughts here.
I am not sure I completely understand your view, but it sounds like you might be equating Christian love with appeasement. As I understand “appeasement” I see it as a response that is grounded in fear: Fear of what might happen if we do not “appease” the aggressor.
Scripture tells us that “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18)
I do not see a conflict between obeying God’s command to love one another and standing for truth, justice, and the constitutional principles that this country was founded on. Quite the opposite. Without love, we are rendered incapable of the “vigilance, courage, and strength” you have encouraged us to.
Perhaps we are really both headed in the same direction? I hope so! Unity in Christ is a powerful and effective force for Good.
Jeff, Perhaps we have encountered another “Pair-o’-docs”
As I’m regularly reminded, love the people, but not their sin.
But we should also be clear, when Jesus says to love, He is not saying to join the movements of our culture that fake it, ‘coexist’, ‘black lives matter’, ‘pro choice’. These all use positive titles, however, they wreak destruction. Yet He said, “love your enemy” and “pray for those who persecute you”.
Love is not equivalent with agreement. Love is not equivalent with inaction. Love need not be blind. Love is not the opposite of discipline.
Jeffery, do not hear wrong, those who love evil will probably still be evil to you and not peaceful when you speak truth, yet we cannot abandon loving them. Speaking truth to the lost despite their response is in fact love. We, with open eyes, see their flaws and choose to have compassion on them in the midst of the spiritual battle happening around us.
Last months scripture memory comes to mind Isaiah 1:17. What has caused all of these terrible things? Why would people go along with horrible acts against others even murdering babies. Because they don’t Love eachother they love themselves and sin. They just keep refilling their lives with new lies and new sin. Some day something is going to burst if they don’t start anew. I love all of you.
T-
“He [God] causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5: 45)
At some point, like he did with the Egyptians in Moses’ day, God will differentiate between the righteous and the unrighteous. The righteous being righteous not by their own goodness, but by the breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6: 14) offered to us by Jesus.
Each day we must look for what we can do for others …and learn, a little more on how to love everyone.
The future never arrives…the present is with us …always. Be in the present!
Countless gifts surround us.
Give thanks to be able to live and love.
The one priceless gift…our salvation.
Amen, Feather. Amen!
Thank you & Happy New Year!
01-01-2022, Matthew 9:16-17, What will happen to us if we cling to the old wineskin of last year and try and pour the new wine of 2022 into it?
By the power of God, all believers are a new creation under conviction of the Holy Spirit. Our spiritual growth is a process of daily shedding the old and putting on the new as He leads us.
His power gives us the ability to overcome all revealed sins, and live in the Holy power of God.
Matthew 7:7-12, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Peter 3:18, Hebrews 5:12, Galatians 5:16
Clinging to our old wineskin, we would be like the 5 virgins with no oil in their lamps, or the worthless servant who was thrown into utter darkness. Matthew 25:1-30.
The Holy Spirit is HOLY, PURE, WITHOUT SIN. He convicts all sinners of their sins, He will not force our submission or dwell within the heart of anyone who “knowingly chooses to live in known disobedience.” Saul learned this in 1 Samuel 16:14, But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
It is a faith building experience to reflect on the work the Holy Spirit has done in our lives. At some point the evidence of His work in our lives becomes overwhelming, and our faith is steadily reinforced by the great work we know God has done in our lives. This is something we could do at least each year. Spend some time with the Lord in prayer and meditation. Praise Him for the work He has continued throughout the past year. Pass from believing to knowing He is with us each day.
Happy New Year Jeff and Thank You!!
For all the time you have put into this Great Work.
Ron
Thank you, Ron!
I appreciate the thoughtful meditations that you share with us. They are a blessing to me!
I especially appreciate the suggestion to meditate on my spiritual growth this past year. That is something that is easy to lose sight of if we do not consciously stop and think about it now and then.
Blessings, brother!
I agree with Ron. Thank you Jeff for helping me grow spiritually.
Tim,
It is an honor to explore God’s garden of truth with you! Thank you for joining me on this critical mission.