We can be a Patchwork or Renewed, Which are you?

“No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment,
for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made.”     (Jesus, Mathew 9:16)

You and I manage and rework everything in life with a goal of making things better.  Our life and job, even relationships, are often a patchwork of trying to make things better.  It comes as no shock that Scripture settles into the soul of people, such as Lesslie Newbigin, who remind us that “You can’t renew things by patching. You have to accept the fact that the old is old, and you have to be ready for what is radically new.”  Life ends up ripping apart when we respond by sewing together a patchwork of fragmented fixes.  Let the change rooted in the Lord’s desire for you become a truth.  God works by pouring out a holy influence of change over you, a change to change, not patch, you and give you an opportunity to “have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

Paul reminds Christ followers that “truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life” (Eph. 4:21-22) and, thereby, be new in Christ – there must be change, not a patch job.  Paul continues, with a something we to accept, you and I are “to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (vv. 23-24).  That’s a lot of effort to believe and ask God to renew your mind.  But, to accept the new God has prepared for you is to open a door that is for something more than you were, are, or ever hoped to find by with a new patch.  The Lord Jesus has placed His Spirit in you with an empowering gift that enables you to know how to “be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).  Know God’s will for you, it’s not a patch, but perfect renewal for living the abundant life.  

Transformed by the Spirit and not by my patchwork,

Owen <><

Without Humility

Consider if you will, that without humility you or I cannot confess the need of Christ. How can we ask for a Savior unless we surrender our pride at the feet of the One we need?

Humility is formed in us when we have complete reliance on God, turn our minds toward the Lord and change by thinking like Jesus. This is an undertaking that gives glory to God, it is a worthy task to undertake as we are being transformed in our soul, as a change in our thinking becomes more like that of Christ (see Romans 12:2)—to be like Christ who "humbled himself" for us on the cross (Philippians 2:5-8).

 “The truth is this: Unless pride dies in you then nothing of heaven can live in you.”  ~ Andrew Murray

Owen <><

  

Afterward You Will Understand

The night before Jesus was arrested and taken away to be crucified, He taught, embrace in a fellowship meal, and shared the first Lord’s Supper or Communion with his disciples.  Before their meal, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, teaching them Godly leadership, born of humility.  That wasn’t an easy feeling for the disciples, their teacher and Lord was washing their feet—they didn’t understand.  Peter asked why, Jesus had a reply.

“What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” ~ John 13:7

They would understand even less before the night was over, especially when he said he would leave them. Emptiness and confusion fell upon the disciples. Is this is a familiar feeling for you at times?  I admit to it; it’s not being angry, blaming God, nor anyone; you’re just confused and needing to understand the why and what now questions. 

We, as the disciples long ago, step out every day to start being the Church afresh.  It is confusing, we seem to forget Jesus’ teachings are easy and let the world’s ways press down on our shoulders.  Today as when Christ’s resurrected, Jesus gave the disciples answers and hope, as he had promised, “afterward you will understand.”  Every day we move forward serving, asking why, confused, sometimes fearful, and no, we don’t understand.  Jesus has the same answer to our turmoil, “but afterward you will understand.”

As we keep asking and doing God’s will, we understand.

Moving toward the next answer,

Owen <><