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"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins." (Mark 2:21-22, NIV)

Observations:

I asked myself what are the words/phrases repeated in these verses.

Old (3)
New (4)
Wine (4)
Wineskins (3)

Yesterday, I learned Jesus speaking about fasting so the people who questioned Jesus regarding the disciples of John and disciples of the Pharisees could understand why his disciples did things differently.

Today, I see Jesus explaining the disciples’ actions in terms of two examples: cloth and wineskins

Interpretations:

I asked myself why those words were repeated!

Usually when words are repeated, there is significance attached to them.

I asked myself what the significance was!

The point that came to my mind was that we cannot mix our old life with our new life. Jesus came to give new life to the people. The disciples of Jesus could understand that but the disciples of John and disciples of Pharisees were still stuck in their old traditions and ways.

Implications:

I saw important implications for our own lives.

When we come to Jesus, we are given new life in Christ. This however does not mean, we did not have an old life. Our new life in Christ must be mixed with the new things that Christ offers us. However, if we decide to mix our Christian life with the life we used to live when we were not Christians, there would be a bigger mess. Once someone becomes a follower of Christ, people have different expectations of them! If the person goes back to their OLD ways, then they are worst of now than they were before because they tasted the Good News and have decided to go back to their old ways. People will start thinking, he/she is supposed to be a Christian and this is how they are acting. They are supposed to be different and they are not!

Jesus was making a point to the disciples of the Pharisees and disciples of John that his disciples are doing things differently because they have Jesus with them. With Jesus on their side, they are living a new life and it would be disaster to mix the new life with the old life. He was also making the point regarding the act of fasting. Since Jesus was with them they did not have to fast at that moment but a time would come when they would fast. This is exposited more in yesterday's devotional.

I ask you now dear friends, how do you see your life?

Dear friends, your life may seem good or bad to you. Your life may seem the same old life or a new life. I do not know how you see your life. The way you see your life is dependent on what you emphasize to be important in your life. However you have perceived your life to be, I have Good News for you. Yes, I do friend! Jesus is His Name and He wants to give you a life with no shame. No matter where you have been or what you have done, a new life in Christ is available for you! You can have a new life in Christ and allow Him to work in your life. He will make the difference and help you through your life.

Even if you have messed up as a follower of Christ and gone back to your old ways, Jesus still loves you and has His arms open wide for you to come to Him. You are never out of His love; you are never out of His reach. Come to Him as you are.

I know I am excited to have Jesus Christ in my life. There have been times I have messed up badly that would even make me shudder that I call myself a Christian. But you know what, Jesus in His grace and mercy let me know that on my own, I will mess up and go back to my old ways. Instead, I need to constantly put on the new self and crucify the old self with His help as I lean on Him. You can do that too! Do not be discouraged when you mess up for our Lord and Savior is there to forgive us and help us through. Yes, He is friend!

There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus for the power of the life giving Spirit has freed us from the law of sin and death! (Romans 8:1)

LIFE

By Ramesh Reddy

Where is this generation headed,

can we say we know ?

Are we doing what is right,

doing what God wants us to do ?

What happened to the beaver ?

Shame to seem him gone,

gone with the wind,

having all his morals and values

dried up like sun-baked clay.

Now are we battered, bruised, and burned

seeing shows depicting immorality causing restlessness

like pain in the back ?

Are we going to a shrink ?

What good will that do ?

It will only shrink our pockets

as our minds get shrunk

like delicate fabric

in improper washing.

What happens to our sanity

as our anxiety rages

like thundering sea waves ?

We want to know answers,

answers to the questions of life.

Do we end up in our self-world

dreading in despair,

despair that brings us to the edge

like an uncontrolled automobile

about to fall off the edge of a cliff.

We have our own hopeless life to live,

life that seems to end in misery.

Where does our hope come from,

hope that can lead us to a blessed life,

life that brings us perfect peace ?

We can only have true contentment,

contentment in our hearts,

only if we find peace,

peace that will end strife

when we come to know the

PRINCE OF PEACE

Who is this Prince of Peace ??

J esus, the Savior of the world.

E verlasting peace comes from knowing him.

S urely goodness and mercy will follow

U nconditionally all the days of our lives

S trengthening us to do what God wants us to do.

Amen!

May you know the wonderful new life, Jesus Christ offers you! Amen!

“Lord Instills Faithfully Emancipation!”/How do you see your life?

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for the new life you offered to the disciples and let the disciples of John and Pharisees see that they were holding on to their old life. Lord, many times it is so easy to go back to the old way of doing things. I know you don’t want that for our life for the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy but you have come to give life in all its fullness giving us abundant life. Help us to take the abundant life you offer us and to hold on to you. I am so sorry for my sin. Please forgive me of my sin. Come into my heart Jesus and make my heart your home. Thank you Jesus we are never out of your love and out of your reach. So right now Jesus, I ask you to live in me Jesus and I pray that I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I want the new life you offer me. Help me Jesus. Thank you for your help. Thank you for dying for our sin and cleansing us with your precious Blood. Wash us and we will be whiter than snow. I thank you Jesus! I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you Jesus for being my Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you for the new life you give us! Thank you for hearing us and answering us Jesus! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Love in Christ, Ramesh

P.S.. If you need someone to talk to, pray with, or study the Bible, you can email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com and we can set up a time that is convenient for you! You can also call me at 412-720-4579