“But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” – Luke 5:38
REFERENCE:
We rarely choose change; it happens to us. Things we cannot change happen; hence, we have to change. When change happens, it affects social norms, disrupts established patterns, and creates new social models. The earthquakes in Turkey will forever impact their architecture and land use policies. Change is like new wine that must be put in new wineskin to benefit us.
Jesus said, “Nobody puts new wine in old wineskins, else the old wineskins will burst, and the wine will spill.” The Pharisees of His time could not receive the newness of His doctrine because they were married to the Old Law. The traditions, prejudices, intolerance, bigotry, the sayings of their forefathers, and observance of elaborate outward dead rituals restrained them.
Jesus illustrates a man who drank old wine and did not want the new. He is averse to change, not open to new ideas, not a risk taker, and lacks a sense of adventure. A prisoner to what he has always known, he cannot know what he has never known. He is prejudiced, believing where he is now is the best; it is nice and suits him. He will not change. Many of us are like that; we like the familiar and revolt against innovation or deviation from the norm.
You can’t put new ideas into old mindsets. You can’t get new results with old behaviors. You can’t find relevance in a new season by embracing old ways. Remember you had to change your 3G phones to take 4G sims. You can’t watch an HD movie on a black & white TV; there would be a malfunction; the wineskin will burst, and the wine will be lost. New wine must be poured into new wineskins. Therefore, renew your mind, as your mind determines the quality of your life.
How were old wineskins renewed? They were soaked in water (the Word of God) to soften and tenderize them. Then, they (being leather) were massaged with oil (the Holy Spirit), so they could stretch to accommodate fermentation. To renew your ‘wineskin,’ go for the Word of God and the anointing of the Holy Spirit to reposition for relevance post-change. The Word gives direction, and the Holy Spirit gives the grace to adapt and change.
Renew your wineskin to experience growth and relevance in your times.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL STUDY:
Romans 12:1-2, Ecclesiastes 7:10 & Isaiah 43:18-19
PRAYERS:
+ Lord, forgive me for trying to fit the old into the new, trying to put new wine into old wineskins, expecting different results while doing things the same old way.
+ I ask that as I read the Word daily, my inner man will be renewed and transformed to be like You.
+ I ask for a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit. May He lead, teach, and guide me in the way that I should go so that in this season of change, I will be relevant and do exploits.
