THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 2:18-22
“No one pours new wine into old wineskins.” (Mark 2:22)
The wine is the object of desire… not the wineskin, which is just a container.
Religious practices are containers that lead us to Jesus, our object of desire.
God gave the Law of Moses as a container to one day deliver the wine – Jesus.
Jesus represents LIFE with God, in fellowship with Him (like marriage).
The symbols and traditions around a wedding are not the point, they are pointers.
Jesus has saved us from the penalty and power of sin; we are free from religion.
We are not accepted by God by our obedience to rules, or our practice of rituals.
God loves us whether or not we fast, go to church, give offerings or kneel to pray.
Everything we do is a love response to Jesus, an act of gratitude.
“Do not let anyone judge you by (religious rituals). These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” (Colossians 2:16-17)
Knowing Jesus, loving Jesus, He is our Saviour, He is the object of our desire.
We need Jesus, not religion… so stop judging people by how they practice religion.
As a Jesus follower, am I in relationship with Jesus or just doing religion?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, You want me to love You, not just be religious. Help me not to judge people by what they do our do not do. Help me to show them what a love relationship looks like.
Out with the old and in with the new? Not really.
There is a time/season for everything under the sun/Son. Yes really.
Our religious ways, how stuck are we in our practices?
We need both the OT and the NT – can’t have one without the other.
God gave His Spirit dwelling with His people – new life in Christ Jesus, the Risen Saviour. My Saviour.
I need to celebrate life in Him and others must see that in me. My traditions may not rightly show my joy in the Lord but my daily living for Jesus will. My heart and mind need to daily grow in love and understanding of His Word for my life and that can happen if I am Spirit filled and Spirit led.
Help me daily Lord so that my knowing = my loving = my doing.
All for Jesus.
A timeless truth.
All for Jesus, all for Jesus!
All my being’s ransomed pow’rs:
All my thoughts and words and doings,
All my days and all my hours.
Refrain 1:
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my days and all my hours;
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my days and all my hours.