Bible League: Living His Word "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins."— Mark 2:22 NKJV New wine that is still going through the process of fermentation bubbles and expands. If you put it into an old wineskin, there will be a problem. Old wineskins have already been stretched to the limit by earlier batches of new wine and can't stretch anymore. As a result, the bubbling and expansion of the new wine will burst them. If you put new wine into new wineskins, on the other hand, everything will be fine. The new wineskins will expand to accommodate the new wine. The examples that Jesus uses in our verse for today were used in the context of a discussion on fasting (Mark 2:18-22). The new wine represents Jesus' new teachings – including His teachings on fasting (e.g., Matthew 6:16-18). The old wineskins represent the old practices of the Pharisees – including their fasting practices. The Pharisees fasted on a regular basis for legalistic and pompous reasons. Jesus' disciples, in contrast, fasted when it was spiritually discerned to be appropriate – like a special season of sorrow. While Jesus was with them it was not appropriate to fast, but when Jesus was taken from them it would be appropriate (Mark 2:19-20). Jesus' teachings aimed at the heart, not the outward behavior. In summary, Jesus is saying that His new teachings shouldn't be introduced into the context of old practices. New wineskins&mdashthat is, a new understanding&mdashis required. The legalism of the Pharisees cannot contain the new teachings of Jesus. If someone tries to introduce them anyway, then the old practices will burst because the new teachings will stretch them beyond their legalistic limits. Worse, Jesus' new teachings will then be diluted or lost in the old practices. Speaking more generally, when the teachings of Jesus are made known, or when insights into the teachings of Jesus are made known, it is mandatory for us to change our understanding order to accommodate them. The Holy Spirit is working amongst us. He is guiding us into the truth (John 16:13). Inevitably, the failings of our old practices will be revealed. Fresh practices must be created as our hearts are renewed by the Spirit. Let us always, then, be ready to exchange our old wineskins for new ones. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 41, 42, 43 Psalm 41 -- David Psalms of Deliverance (2Sa 17) NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 42 -- BOOK 2: As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 43 -- Vindicate me, God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Acts 24 Acts 24 -- The Trial Before Felix NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God's Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!' But he will reply, ‘I don't know you or where you come from.'Insight Finding salvation requires more concentrated effort than most people are willing to put forth. Obviously, we cannot save ourselves—there is no way we can work ourselves into God's favor. Challenge The effort we must put out “to enter the narrow door” is earnestly desiring to know Jesus and diligently striving to follow him whatever the cost. We dare not put off making this decision because the door will not stay open forever. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Joel 2:11 His camp is very great.Consider, my soul, the mightiness of the Lord who is thy glory and defence. He is a man of war; Jehovah is his name. All the forces of heaven are at his beck, legions wait at his door, cherubim and seraphim;, watchers and holy ones, principalities and powers, are all attentive to his will. If our eyes were not blinded by the ophthalmia of the flesh, we should see horses of fire and chariots of fire round about the Lord's beloved. The powers of nature are all subject to the absolute control of the Creator: stormy wind and tempest, lightning and rain, and snow, and hail, and the soft dews and cheering sunshine, come and go at his decree. The bands of Orion he looseth, and bindeth the sweet influences of the Pleiades. Earth, sea, and air, and the places under the earth, are the barracks for Jehovah's great armies; space is his camping ground, light is his banner, and flame is his sword. When he goeth forth to war, famine ravages the land, pestilence smites the nations, hurricane sweeps the sea, tornado shakes the mountains, and earthquake makes the solid world to tremble. As for animate creatures, they all own his dominion, and from the great fish which swallowed the prophet, down to "all manner of flies," which plagued the field of Zoan, all are his servants, and like the palmer-worm, the caterpillar, and the cankerworm, are squadrons of his great army, for his camp is very great. My soul, see to it that thou be at peace with this mighty King; yea, more, be sure to enlist under his banner, for to war against him is madness, and to serve him is glory. Jesus, Immanuel, God with us, is ready to receive recruits for the army of the Lord: if I am not already enlisted let me go to him ere I sleep, and beg to be accepted through his merits; and if I be already, as I hope I am, a soldier of the cross, let me be of good courage; for the enemy is powerless compared with my Lord, whose camp is very great. Daily Light on the Daily Path Romans 4:20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,Mark 11:22-24 And Jesus answered saying to them, "Have faith in God. • "Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. • "Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. Hebrews 11:16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:17-19 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; • it was he to whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED." • He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type. Romans 4:21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Genesis 18:14 "Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son." Matthew 19:26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Luke 17:5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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