Room for the New

Mark 2:21-22 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.”
 
YOU’VE nursed the car along for years and have spent much money on repairs. But with all the time, effort and money, the car is still old and runs poorly.
   Do you ever feel your life is that way? Regardless of what you do to become better, to repair the broken “parts” of your life, nothing changes. You go to church, read the Bible and attend a Bible study. You read a good book or start a new hobby and hope, “Now everything will be fixed.” But the same broken issues are still breaking your life. What does Jesus want you to do?
   Jesus first wants you to know you can’t keep putting new things into a heart and mind that is unwilling to receive them. Jesus’ teachings will only heal you toward a new life when you replace your old life with the full life he offers you.
   Our sin-broken minds are suspicious of God’s Word. Perhaps we have been disappointed the Lord has often seemed silent to our prayers. As you read the Bible or hear it taught, you may say, “I wonder if this really works?” You try some biblical principles, but your heart is still saying, “Maybe there’s something else.” You remain unconvinced. Your Old Way is pushing against the New Way.
   You’re not alone in these spiritual challenges. We all face them. And even the specially-anointed apostle Paul lamented, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (Romans 7:15) The new wine of God’s gospel was threatening to burst Paul’s reforming heart!
   Thankfully, the Spirit gave to Paul the knowledge to persevere in the spiritual battle. He knew Jesus had made him into a new man: 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
   Do you want to be new and leave the broken parts behind? Then know that Jesus is not repairing you; Jesus is re-creating you into a new life in his grace and authority. The Holy Spirit comes from Jesus to help you into the new person he has created you to become. Jesus knows it’s not simple. He also knows his power will make your life new when your heart faithfully receives him.
   Remember, Jesus said it this way: John 3:5 “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”
   Saved in Jesus’ grace, you are a new creation. As you physically grew and developed from your birth into adulthood, you can grow and develop as a child of God to live in the fullness of your salvation. Be steadfast to attend to the “broken” parts of your life. Renewal takes time. Earnestly pray for the Holy Spirit to make you new in Jesus’ salvation. Release the things that will break you. Receive the things that make you new.