Garment of Praise

Luke 5:36-39 He told them this parable: “No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’”
 
A childhood memory recalls my mother patching rips in my everyday pants with cloth from other worn out pants. It was good to extend their use for several months. Of course, it was only a matter of time the repaired pants would be too worn to wear. It was not good to keep wearing the old worn out clothes – even if they were comfortable!
    Jesus did not want the Jews to keep wearing the old, worn out, comfortable traditions that tore from their relationship with the LORD God. Jesus’ message pointed to the new: Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” The law taught the Jews the essence of life was to love God and to love others. The Pharisees’ practice of patching new laws and traditions into God’s perfect law formed a weak, worn-out garment of love-stifling rules.
    We thank God Jesus has given us a new garment of praise, as he promised: Isaiah 61:3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
    Rejoice and be glad! Who wants to wear the old clothes when we can live under Jesus’ eternal new clothes? Revelation 21:5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Yes, the cross proves Jesus’ words are trustworthy and true. Believe his words and live. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for your garment of praise over my soul. I rejoice in the new life you have given to me. I pray I always remember and live in your love. In you name I pray. Amen.