When New Meets Old

Have you ever read the part of the bible in which Jesus used the parable of the wineskin...

He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they 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. Otherwise, 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 they say, ‘The old is better.’” Luke 5: 36- 39

What did you think about this? The same old example we know right? Giving our lives to Christ means letting go of the old... Yeah yeah, I was also thinking in that direction. I honestly never took the parable further than that. Getting that explanation was enough for me to move by, until now...

Do you know this parable is related to practically every act which occurred in the Bible? Well, there are many examples, fromJesus surrendering to die on the cross, Noah building the ark, Nehemiah rebuilding the wall, the widow and the prophet with the overflowing jar of oil. Are you wondering how these have got anything to do with new wine and old skin?? Give me a few minutes and let me explain... 

Really, it seems like these people in the example were simply acting on faith right? Doing what God or a man of God had told them to do at each point. It didn't seem like any of them at any point had to replace their old skin or garment with new ones right?? 

Well, it didn't seem that way, but like me if you understand what changing old for new involves, you would totally get it. In the reality and practicality of things, the process of changing old to new requires an action. It requires taking a step, or going through a process to get new wineskin. It also means the new wineskin, has to be prepared before the new wine is poured. 

This means that, God expects us to make a move, before He does any thing. God provides the content, we provide the container. Unless the container is ready, the content cannot be poured in. Hmmm, I don't know if you get the depth of this, but I'll try explaining further.  

In our daily, Christian lives, God often instructs us to do certain things. Or the other way round, we ask God for certain things. We  cry pray to God, to give us things (promote us, give us a spouse) and the likes, i.e we ask for content. But do we acknowledge the fact that, to receive what we ask for, is to receive something new, and that new thing, requires a new container?  You see where I am going? Yeah, deep things... 

Well, in each of the example I mentioned earlier, each individual had to give something, to receive. The widow had to give vessels, Noah his time and strength. Jesus His life. Nehemiah his job and time. Not only did they have to give things, but they had to give it empty. After-all God can't fill an already full jar, can He? 

Point I am driving at is, for everything we ask from God, we also have something to give; an empty container, and not just one, but as many as we can. In reality, this can be our mindset, maybe God says leave a job to get another. It could be prayer to get a new anointing. It could be us leaving a relationship, or it could be us asking for one. But for us to receive we need to give something, and the quantity we give, determines the quantity we receive. The oil didn't stop, until the containers the widow got were all filled.  The amount of blessings you receive from God will come in the measure you give to Him.

I'll also like to state, that giving to God can sometimes mean letting go of things. Letting go of pain and hurt, to let Him fill us with joy and gladness. i.e giving Him our pains and reproach (which is in reality emptying ourselves or the containers) and letting Him fill us up. We should also know that in giving or emptying, we must give according to the will and calling of God.

14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14

The widow, Noah and Jesus all provided vessels because God gave them the directive. We can't just sow seeds in greed because we feel we deserve and must help God so He helps us. In doing things, we need to do it with a Godly mindset, so the devil doesn't take advantage and fill us rather.

Three questions I'll like to leave with you, to give you perspective into the personal things God have told you...

1. What new thing is God asking of you, or are you asking from Him? 
2. What are the empty containers he is asking for or what containers do you need to empty before receiving from Him ? (Is he asking you to let go of your pride and surrender to him?) 
3. How many containers are you willing to provide for him to fill ? 

In honestly answering these questions, I think we will all be on a pathway to glory, being better people and Christians. I hope you were blessed by this post. Share with your friends and bless them with the word. Have a glorious weekend.