[Jesus continued,] "But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. 'The old is just fine,' they say."
—Luke 5:39 NLT
The Israelites in the wilderness are a great example of it, but we all have a tendency to do it — we look back on the past, what we once had or did, with nostalgia and imagine it better than it was. The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt but wanted to go back to Egypt because they imagined it was better than what they were facing in the wilderness. We often do the same thing in our walk of faith. The old life and its temptations lure us and invite us back. Sometimes we succumb. The old religious way of thinking, perhaps one based on works of righteousness and earning our own salvation or based on being part of a familiar religious tradition or one that feels comfortable and culturally acceptable, often seeps back into our Christian way of thinking, robbing us of Christianity's vitality. The lure of the familiar is powerful. It is also a deadly thief, robbing our new life in Christ of its grace, joy, and victory. Don't go back and mix some other form of religion you know with the radical call of Jesus!
Dear Father in heaven, please give me the courage and spiritual insight to resist anything that would take me back from the marvelous way of life you have given me in your Son. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Ⓒ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by ### and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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—Luke 5:39 NLT
Key Thought
The Israelites in the wilderness are a great example of it, but we all have a tendency to do it — we look back on the past, what we once had or did, with nostalgia and imagine it better than it was. The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt but wanted to go back to Egypt because they imagined it was better than what they were facing in the wilderness. We often do the same thing in our walk of faith. The old life and its temptations lure us and invite us back. Sometimes we succumb. The old religious way of thinking, perhaps one based on works of righteousness and earning our own salvation or based on being part of a familiar religious tradition or one that feels comfortable and culturally acceptable, often seeps back into our Christian way of thinking, robbing us of Christianity's vitality. The lure of the familiar is powerful. It is also a deadly thief, robbing our new life in Christ of its grace, joy, and victory. Don't go back and mix some other form of religion you know with the radical call of Jesus!
Today's Prayer
Dear Father in heaven, please give me the courage and spiritual insight to resist anything that would take me back from the marvelous way of life you have given me in your Son. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
Ⓒ 1996-2023 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by ### and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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