Wednesday, November 22, 2006

May your Thanksgiving Garments be joyful!

Key Bible Text

“…No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old.” Luke 5:36-38

The Relevance of a New Garment

Growing up, my siblings and I often received hand-me-downs; many were faded, all were filled with patches. While I wore these clothes to school and at play, I never wore them with the joy of a new garment. In today’s verses, Jesus proclaims that a patch, no matter how good the intentions, does not make a garment new.

Because of Jesus, we no longer have to wear patchwork garments; our garments are absolutely new! In the joy of this new garment, we grow and mature quite willingly, until we get to the hard part: resisting the renewal of mind and spirit that is required in the new garment. We’ve grown comfortable with the old patches; we want to keep them!

In verse 37, Jesus further demonstrates the risk of mixing the old with the new by using a wine analogy. The Jewish New Testament Commentary explains: “Old wineskins lose their strength and elasticity….they cannot withstand the pressure of new wine still fermenting.” As a Christian, if we resist the makeover that comes with the new garment, if we insist mixing the old with the new, we are living under the pressure of an impending explosion!

The first century Church struggled to integrate the new wine of Messianic faith with the old wine of Judaism. Daily, we struggle to weave the old patterns of our former nature with the new spirit of our salvation. The lesson of today’s parable: Jesus says, for either effort—it can’t be done! When we insist on mixing the two, Jesus said we lose any value to the old and dilute the value of the new.

Being renewed, not relying on the old, can sometimes feel like we are walking around naked. Daily, when my heart is most vulnerable, my old nature rises to the surface, tempting me to bring out the patches! However, when I remember that God is providing this renewal, I can move forward into His purpose with courage, knowing that I am fully covered by His Word (Isaiah 61:10). There is no bursting elasticity or lack of strength found in this new garment; no patches are necessary!

Reflections

Do you continue to press the patches of your old garment onto the new one Jesus provided? Step out of the frayed garment of your old nature wearing the brilliance of His perfect “robe of righteousness.” “Delight in the Lord”—wear your new garment with joy!

Originally published in Life Line Devotional, November 22, 2006: written by blog author

15 comments:

Dawn said...

What great thoughts! I am in awe of how your mind is able to put these concepts together and write them so beautifully. I, too, wore second hand clothes in childhood - I think I'll blog on that subject someday. I'm starting to get a list ahead again, which is good.

Have a wonderful thankful Thanksgiving. Are you getting together with Sally? How is she doing?

Blessings on a dear new long-distance, never-met-in-person FRIEND.

Heather Smith said...

Great post! I love that passage of Scripture! I definitely needed this reminder today!

~ Brandilyn Collins said...

Blessings to you on this Thanksgiving.

Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment today. I am so glad to find your blog. It's so needed! My children are now grown--well, almost; my daughter is a senior in high school. Our son, now 23, was a prodigal. For years I prayed for him and for other moms' prodigals. I still do pray for lost kids. I know the pain. I know what it is to fall to your knees and say, "God, I CAN'T take it anymore." Oh, but He is so merciful.

I've seen our son come out on the other side. I've seen amazing miracles of God's protection in his life. He has far to go--but then, don't we all.

I've been able to use my experiences in some of my novels (as subplots to the suspense). In this way, through my fiction, I hope to encourage others in similar situations. It's wonderful that we can use our "thorns" to minister to others.

Blessings on you and your family during this holiday.

Donnetta said...

Wonderful challenge!! Thanks for these thoughts today! Happy Thanksgiving to you!!

Scrambled Dregs said...

Thanks.

This is one of the most coherent and applicable commentaries I've seen on these verses.

Thanks. May we all embrace our newness and leave behind our flesh.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

Anonymous said...

I needed to hear your words today. Thank you so much for reminding me that I am a new creature through Him...

Have a blessed and joyous Thanksgiving, my dear friend.

Anonymous said...

I have often mulled over this text. I appriciate your insight into it.

Valerie said...

Just dropping by to wish you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Susannah said...

A well-written post and inspiring. I'm so glad I was born under the New Covenant.

Also, I look forward to receiving a new glorified body at the resurrection. Can you imagine? What a hope there is for those of us who are into the second decade... and showing it!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow. Blessings, e-Mom

Saija said...

hope you have a wonderful thanksgiving ... wearing a new garment with joy!!!

Anonymous said...

What a blessing to hear these words today. Thankyou for listening to the Holy Spirit and sharing His Words with us. Upon reading this I am reminded of the following scripture and feel lead to share:
Rev 3: 18-20
(18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich: and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
(20) Behold, I stand before the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with Me.
May God bless and love you today. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family If we never meet here on earth, I will see you at the Banquet our Lord is preparing.
http://marineforchrist.blogspot.com

C. H. Green said...

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

Anonymous said...

Yes maam...we are NEW CREATURES...not a thing hand-me-down about us.

Now...we just have to dump hand-me-down thinking...

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Anonymous said...

This is really, really GOOD. I love it. And needed it. Thank you.
So good to know a sister who understands grace and our new life in Him. You're so right about not using the patches of our old garment...put on the new! Put on Christ, the Word says.

Amen, sister. Beautifully written.

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