God Enjoys Newness

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 2:22

I think of the Scripture where God says, “I am making everything new” (Revelation 21:5).  He also enjoys new songs (Psalm 40:3; 98:1).  Our creative God enjoys newness!  If we were more like Jesus, we probably would too.  Instead, most people loathe change.  They fear it.  Routine and sameness is valued because it is known.  Where’s the growth in that?  Where’s the adventure?  God enjoys the adventure, I think.  He loves it when I have faith in Him and join Him in the new thing He is doing.

One thing I must do is not just focus on the new thing alone but also the new container.  Someone who is in the business of making wine is also in the new wineskin business.  Old containers won’t work.  You make like them, but you’ll lose both the new thing and the old container if you use it.  That brings double the frustration and you might decide to forget the new thing… to toss aside that new dream or direction, but it was really the container’s failure.  We rarely blame the old container because we like what’s familiar.  Don’t leave the adventure!  Just get new wineskins.  It can seem like a lot of work, and maybe it is, but it’ll be worth it!

Father, what new thing do You want to lead me in?  What unnerving faith adventure do You have in store for me?  Help me to embrace Your leading and trust You completely.  Give me Your creativity and a confidence in You that does not shrink back to the comfortable and familiar.  Be glorified through my life today, I pray.