THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 9:14-17
“Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins.” (Matthew 9:17)
Einstein said insanity was doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Religion and religious practices have been tried over and over again through the centuries.
But religion has not made us better, and maybe it has made us worse.
Judgmental, close-minded, exclusionary, even violent towards who don’t do religion like us.
Like here, ‘how come you don’t fast’ (not eat or drink for religious purposes).
Jesus compares religion with the trappings of a wedding; what really matters is the couple.
Quit arguing about the flowers, the favours, the venue, the music, etc. and stand up for the couple.
Jesus is the bridegroom, we are the bride, our relationship is what really matters!
He sees His coming as something new, a new way to break the insanity of religion.
Religion is the old garment, or the old wineskin… the “same thing” that cannot get better results.
Jesus is the new cloth, the new wine, the new way that will change everything.
Quit playing the religion game (performing for God, judging others for their performance).
Our relationship with Jesus is the new reality, the end to the insanity of religion.
I do not see myself as a Christian (a member of that religion), as opposed to the other religions.
I am a Jesus-follower, my eyes are on the bridegroom, I’m drinking in my relationship with Him.
Fast or don’t fast, pray or don’t pray, kneel or don’t kneel, tithe or don’t tithe…
It matters not, so long as I am growing in my relationship with Him.
Without Jesus, its all insanity!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, I am still caught in some of the trappings of religion, its hard to escape it in the church business. But now more than ever, I feel the need to know You better. I want to know You!
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
Following the law was the old way.
Following Jesus is the new way.
Jesus did not come to patch up the old ways but rather to show a new way – a new beginning – a following of Jesus is the right thing to do. Serve Him. Serve your neighbour. And in following Jesus we are doing the right thing. And they will know we are Christians by our love.
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love
By our love, by our love
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love
By our love, by our love
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love
Love is patient, love is kind
Never boasts, not full of pride
Always hopes, always trusts
The evidence of Christ in us
Amen to that! This is why you are my inspirational friend not because you do what you do or even by your faith really but how you love others by doing what you do as a follower. In some ways I feel I shouldn’t even be allowed to go to church or accepted by “religious” stand views but that’s why I’m anti religious not because I don’t think the practises are right or wrong but I’ve seen so many people use it as a right to judge others or power trip. And if you really look into Jesus way of living and how he loved he had his teachings but they were always out of love, not out of performance. “And they’ll know you are my followers by the way you love one another.” John 13:35