FRESH CONTAINER

Mark 2:22
Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins… Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.
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I have been into a new hobby – mountain biking. I recently bought a decent mountain bike and biked around our community in the morning before coming to work or in the afternoon. I learned how to ride a bike when I was about 10 years old and owned two bikes – the first one was stolen. But it has been a while since the last time I owned and rode on a bike. Also, technology has caught up with me – shocks, geared setup (21-speed bike), light aluminum frame (my first bike is really heavy), disk brake. So I really had to relearn everything from shifting the gears, riding “uphill”, setting up the seat and the post. I have to “renew” my self so I would fit into this “new” bike and maximize its capability, or else, might as well bought an old rag-tag one from the second-hand market.

In Jesus time, they would put wines into goat skins. Through time, the skin would expand and might come into brink of bursting. Therefore, when a new wine is poured in, it might burst and the wine is ruined. The old skin does not anymore have the flexibility to expand.

Similarly, when we receive Jesus in our lives, we have to renew ourselves and our lives. We cannot say that we are accepting Jesus as our Lord and still go on our sinful ways. The new wine of the Gospel is manifested by the fruits of the Spirit. If the new wine is to be preserved, a new being has to be found that are more appropriate than the old ones. If we lean too heavily on our old self, the new wine of the Spirit will be lost. Therefore, we need to constantly change ourselves and mend our ways, by praying and being obedient to God and His commandments. As such, we would be able to contain the joy, mercy and glory of the Spirit in our hearts without the possibility of bursting and losing it. Let Him pour His “new wine” into us, accepting Him into our lives and living the life that He wants from us.

Almighty Father, make me new as a new wineskin so I may accept You in my heart fully and joyfully. May Your Spirit come upon us and dwell in us peacefully. Restore and renew us, O Lord, in a joyous awakening to the wonder that our lives are and, yet, can be. Amen +

I will hear what God proclaims… for He proclaims peace to His people.