Words from the Rock
Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.
And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.
Matthew 9:16–17 NLT
Jesus is speaking in metaphors again—using parables to make a point. But what is he really saying? First of all, he makes this statement right after he tells his followers that they don’t need to do a “religious” act to connect to God—because God is right there among them in the form of Jesus! But he wants to drive this point home further by speaking their language. Unfortunately, it’s not really our language or the language of modern culture.
What Jesus is saying is that he’s got something fresh and new, and it will be useless if it’s stored in an old container. To put this into modern-day words, imagine that all you have is this really old computer (from the previous century), and you’re trying to download a brand-new, state-of-the-art, totally cool video game on it. No matter how much you want to play that video game, it ain’t gonna work. You need a new computer.
That’s what Jesus is saying. You can’t use your old rules and ways of practicing religion and try to fit Jesus into them. It’s like trying to download a new song from the Internet onto your grandma’s old stereo. No way, José.
So what does this mean to you personally? Is it possible you have some old ways of thinking? Some myths that you’ve adhered to? Perhaps you’ve created some distorted religious traditions of your own. Maybe you’re superstitious about something. Let Jesus transform you (make you new) in order to fill you with himself. Come to him and say, “Okay, do what you want with me.” And then let him do it.
My Prayer
Dear God,
I don’t want to be like an old computer—unable to contain the latest and greatest thing that you want to do in me. Help me to change. Make me new.
Amen.
Final Word
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
Stone for the Journey
Change is good—when God is the one in charge of it.