Early this morning I saw many groups of peopleall holding calendars and tearing off Dec 2016 to get to the new year. Some were super excited, looking through their 2017 calendar, enjoying the different photos and looking up holiday dates!
But, other people were perplexed. As they looked through their calendars they discovered the new year was exactly the same as the old year. They were disappointed and complaining that nothing had changed.
Here is the understanding. It didn’t matter what year it was because they had not changed. They remained set in their ways, refusing to go beyond what had become familiar and comfortable. Such a paradox…they were looking for a fresh new start, but at the same time, fiercely clinging to their old ways and resisting change.
Jesus addressed this same principle in the parable of the wineskins. New wine must be put into new wine skins; the old covenant (legalistic adherence to the law) doesn’t fit into the new covenant (grace and mercy). Luke 5:37
I refuse to drag anything from 2016 into 2017 that isn’t of God, or opposes the changes He is inviting me to make this year in my life.
pastorbb 