Thursday, May 24, 2012    

New Wineskins

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

I’ve read the following passage many times and it’s always been intriguing to me. I’ve even preached on the passage before. But as often happens, I read it this morning and saw something new once again. Here’s the passage:

Then Jesus gave them this illustration: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and uses it to patch an old garment. For then the new garment would be ruined, and the new patch wouldn’t even match the old garment.

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine must be stored in new wineskins. But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.”

(Luke 5:36-39, NLT)

For the longest time I struggled with what Jesus was saying with all the discussion about new patched, old patches, new wineskins, and old wineskins. I understand now that He’s talking about the new kind of relationship He was ushering in. No longer where God and His children going to be separated. Jesus came to bring something new…a close, personal relationships with Him. He’s the new patch and the new wine. And he doesn’t fit into the old way of doing things (Law, Pharisaical ways, our old thinking, etc.). It was brand new and He was bringing an entirely new package to us…wine and wineskins.

So why do I bring all this up? What’s new for me today?

That last sentence: “But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.”

Jesus is talking about us being set in our ways. Too often we can’t accept His new way because we’re too used to the old way…our way. I don’t want to be one of these people Jesus us talking about who think “the old is just fine”. It’s not just fine. Jesus’ way is so much better than my way…but am I too afraid to give it a try (even when others tell me how good it is)?

I want the new wine. I want the new patch.

I want Jesus.

23.03.2011 Jesus, Spiritual Development, Spiritual Musings 1 Comment

Sell, Baby, Sell???

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

I’m preparing the message for this upcoming Sunday on the the Spiritual Discipline of Simplicity. Sometimes a message almost writes itself. This is not one of those times. This time I’m wrestling with the passage…and might be losing (okay, maybe not, but that’s how it has felt at times). I don’t mind the times when I wrestle with the message. It should probably be that way more often than not. It shouldn’t be easy. I need to be listening more to what God has to say and what Scripture says instead of what I want to say.

So I’m wrestling. And God is doing His thing (as He always does).

In the midst of this process God has challenged be beyond the main point of the sermon. It has stopped me in my tracks. To beat the metaphor into a bloody pulp, I’m personally wrestling with something Jesus says…no, commands…in the Scripture passage I’m using for this Sunday’s sermon.

I can’t get away from it. I can’t explain it away. I wish I could, but I can’t. Here’s the verse that is haunting me:

Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. (Luke 12:33, NLT)

I’ve read this passage many times. I’ve heard sermons about it. I’ve studied it. But it’s new to me today…and I can’t get away from this one little sentence: “Sell your possessions and give to those in need.” Really? Sell my possessions and give the proceeds away? Good sentiment, but really?

Yes, really.

I’ve done my word studies. I’ve read commentaries. I’ve prayed over this. All in the hopes that God would let me off the hook here. He can’t really expect me to sell my stuff and give it to someone else who is in need. Right?

Wrong.

He expects exactly that. And it’s not the first time Jesus makes such an insane command. He even made this direct command to the Rich Young Ruler in Mark 10:17-21. He tells this guy that if he’s serious about getting eternal life he needs to sell his stuff and follow Jesus. And He meant it. The dude won’t do it…and walks away from Jesus. He may have been trying to call Jesus’ bluff, but Jesus wasn’t bluffing. He lets the dude walk away. He was dead serious.

The Disciples even reacted to the outlandish nature of what Jesus told this man. I’m paraphrasing, but it went something like: “Wow…that’s harsh! If that’s the expectation then who can be saved?” And Jesus doesn’t argue the point, He simply says that anything is possible with God (whole other message there). If money has our heart then there’s simply no room for God. That’s easier for me to swallow, it’s all about my attitude about money. But Jesus still meant what He said…He still said to sell and give.

So what do I do with this? Good question. For now, I wrestle and pray some more…

22.06.2010 Sermon, Spiritual Musings 3 Comments

The Best Medicine

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

LaughterI love to laugh. Come to think of it…is there anyone who doesn’t like to laugh (and would you trust them if they didn’t? I love a good joke, for example…

A couple of hunters are out in the woods when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn’t seem to be breathing, his eyes are rolled back in his head. The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps to the operator: “My friend is dead! What can I do?” The operator, in a calm, soothing voice, says: “Just take it easy. I can help. First, let’s make sure he’s dead. “There is a silence, then a shot is heard. The guy’s voice comes back on the line. He says: “Okay, now what?”

I laugh at myself, I laugh with others (I try to not laugh at them too often). Laughing feels good. It’s fun. “They” say it’s the best medicine. We laugh a lot in our family and I love to hear my kids’ laughter. It keeps us from taking life and ourselves too seriously. Laughter is good for the soul.

That last sentence got me thinking today about what Scripture says about laughter. I must admit I couldn’t think of a single verse off the top of my head that dealt with laughter. But God invented it so it has to be there right?

So I went on a little search. Most of the references to laughter are about laughing at someone’s defeat (see the Psalms) or someone laughing at something God told them (see Sarah). But there are a few positive references…

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven…A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4; NLT)

God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh. (Luke 6:21, NLT)
That’s not to say that we’re supposed to be a bunch of fuddy-duddy’s. The more common term is “joy”. As in…
And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10, NLT)
Jesus was known for having a good time (even got accused of having a little too much fun at times). So live it up…laugh it up. Enjoy life. And if you’ve got a good joke…send it my way!

01.04.2010 Humor, Misc Ramblings, Spiritual Musings No Comments

Hanging with Mr. Z

Friday, November 13th, 2009

Who are the primary people in my sphere of influence? Are they the same type of people that Jesus hung out with?

Yes and no.

One the one hand, Jesus hung out with His disciples. Men who followed Jesus and were dedicated to learning everything they could from Him. Men who left everything to walk in His footsteps. I hang with a group very much like this. Imperfect men and women who are sold out on becoming more like Jesus. They challenge me. They encourage me. They inspire me.

But on the other hand, Jesus hung out with guys like Mr. Z (you’ll have to look it up in Luke 19). And He was constantly criticized for it…

But the people were displeased.
“He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.
Luke 19:7, NLT

I don’t know that the same would be said of me…certainly not very often. And this is an area that God is working on in my life. Where am I coming into contact with people that need Him most? A few weeks ago the topic came up in a book we are reading in LifeGroup (Crazy Love). Am I hanging out with “notorious sinners”? Am I feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, taking care of widows and orphans?

Not like I should be…and I’m praying for God to show me how He wants me to be involved at this level. Who does He want me to serve…and how?

13.11.2009 Spiritual Musings No Comments

A Steep Price and My Challenge

Monday, November 9th, 2009

This post is for me this morning. God has been challenging me hard for the past couple of weeks. He is slowly changing my attitudes and thoughts in a couple of areas of my spiritual life. It hasn’t been easy. He has been examining my motives and intentions…digging below the surface and showing me things I’d rather just leave alone.

But it has been a good journey too. I am becoming more like Him…but I have a loooooong way to go! I trust His heart. I trust His intentions. I know He has the best in mind for me. So I listen and learn…too slowly, but it is happening.

Just this weekend Go gave me this passage to wrestle with:

If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—
your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life.
Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.
And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple…
So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.
Luke 14:26-27, 33

Take a second and read that again…take it all in.

It’s a steep price to pay…being His disciple, following Him. Have I counted the cost? Am I willing to pay this price? Is this where my heart really is? Are His priorities my priorities? They easy answer is “yes”, but is that the honest answer?

That’s my challenge this week. He and I are working through the questions and the answers. It’s a process. It’s a journey.

09.11.2009 Discipleship, Spiritual Development, Spiritual Musings No Comments

It’s All About Who You Know

Sunday, October 18th, 2009

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything here on the good ol’ blog, and I haven’t been on Facebook much either. Other “stuff” has just been a bigger priority. Life is changing…for the good…and I’ll tell that story soon (gotta love the anticipation).

Over the past couple of days, though, God has been working on me about the topic of us knowing Him and Him knowing us. It’s what the Christian walk is all about…a personal relationship with Him. He wants to know us. We get to know Him. And we’re not talking about some superficial, “Yeah, I know who God is” thing. We’re talking about actually getting to know God…having a personal, authentic relationship with Him.

As I was reading Scripture this week, it became even more clear how important this is…it’s the only test we get in the end:

“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.’
Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from.
Get away from me, all you who do evil.’”
Luke 13:24-27, NLT

What’s the real test at the end? It’s not about how much good you did versus how much bad you did. You don’t get a screenplay of your life played out before you. There’s no record of how many times you went to church or didn’t fall asleep during a sermon. There’s no mention of which denomination you belong you (or which political party).

It boils down to one simple question: Does Jesus know you?

In other words, do you have a relationship with Him? Does He know you and do you know Him? That’s it.

Simple.

Not easy.

18.10.2009 Devotional, Spiritual Musings No Comments

It’s Empty!!

Sunday, April 12th, 2009

“Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?
He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!
Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man
must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified,
and that he would rise again on the third day.”
Luke 24:5-7, NLT

12.04.2009 God's Love, Holiday, Jesus No Comments

Taking it for Granted

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

As I have said recently, my life is a little crazy right now with a weird work schedule for the next month and school in full swing. So blogging has taken a little bit of a backseat…but I’m here today! :cool:

In my devotions this morning I read this passage:

Then when they were alone, he turned to the disciples and said,
“Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen.
I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see,
but they didn’t see it.
And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.”
Luke 10:23-24, NLT

This is one of those passages that usually rolls by unnoticed…and today would have been no different if it weren’t for the devotional book that said this about the passage:

Are we casual about our knowledge of Jesus and His Word?
Have we been so saturated with the message of the gospel that we take it for granted?

In the passage Jesus is telling His disciples that they are a part of something huge…something few people would get to experience but that many people had looked forward to. I thought it only applied to them. I was wrong. The question above are great questions that step on my toes too much.

I am often too casual about my walk with God. Too often I take my spiritual walk for granted…I take God for granted. You and I have been given a unique opportunity and gift. Let’s not take it for granted.

30.09.2008 Devotional, Spiritual Musings No Comments

Tough Love

Saturday, July 19th, 2008

To you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies!
Do good to those who hate you.
Bless those who curse you.
Pray for those who hurt you.
Luke 6:27-28, NLT

Now this is tough love! And it’s not fair. It’s backwards. Makes you wonder what Jesus was thinking sometimes doesn’t it? I mean come on…love your enemies? Do good to those who hate you? Pray for the people in your life that hurt you (and not just hurt you once, but that hurt you over and over again!)? He just can’t be serious!

Or can He?

And if He is serious…why? Why should we act this way? It certainly isn’t in our nature (pretty much the exact opposite is our nature). Why does Jesus command us to love like this? Two reasons…

One: He calls us to be different, and that often means taking the rougher road (the 4×4 road instead of the paved road). Loving those who already love us is the easy way, and according to Jesus it’s what everyone else is doing already:

If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that?
Even sinners love those who love them!
Luke 6:32,NLT

Two: Because loving those who we don’t want to love and loving those who hurt us is how God acts…and He wants us to act like our Father. He wants us to be like Him. Imagine that! I don’t know about you, but that’s what I strive for pretty much every day…to be like my Father.

Love your enemies…
Then…you will be acting as children of the Most High,
for He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.
You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
Luke 6:35-36, NLT

Don’t miss who he’s talking about here. Who has he been kind to? “Those who are unthankful and wicked.” Hmmm…sounds a lot like a guy I know…I see him in the mirror every day! God has been (and still is) kind and compassionate to me. All He asks is that I return the favor to others.

Yes, it’s tough love. But is anything really worth doing ever easy?

19.07.2008 Devotional, Jesus, Spiritual Musings No Comments