February 17
Mark 2:13-3:6
How do the Old and New Testaments fit together? When we read the Old Testament and the Mosaic Covenant, we might wonder how they relate to Jesus. This is a question that many of the religious leaders had as well. Jesus brought a new covenant and a new way of life. In contrast the Pharisees and many in the early church tried to mash together the old way of things with the new. Jesus declared this strategy a failure when he said, “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse.” We may not try to smash old covenant traditions into our relationship with God, but we may try to fit all sorts of other things that do not work. We may try to take western individualism, modern materialism, or any number of other things and try to make them work in our walk with God, even though they are largely opposed to him.
Instead, we need to start with Jesus and ask how he wants us to live and what he wants us to do. Let us ask God how to shape our lives, rather than trying to rationalize living like everyone else around us. Let us make Jesus the center of our lives and allow him to transform our perspectives, rather than watering him down diluting him to the point that he merely affirms all of our pre-existing ideas and behaviors.
Father God, help me not to conform to the ways of the world; instead, help me be transformed into the likeness of Christ. Amen.
When have you tried to lessen the demands and commands of Jesus? How can you make sure you are following him and not merely our cultural norms?
How do the Old and New Testaments fit together? When we read the Old Testament and the Mosaic Covenant, we might wonder how they relate to Jesus. This is a question that many of the religious leaders had as well. Jesus brought a new covenant and a new way of life. In contrast the Pharisees and many in the early church tried to mash together the old way of things with the new. Jesus declared this strategy a failure when he said, “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse.” We may not try to smash old covenant traditions into our relationship with God, but we may try to fit all sorts of other things that do not work. We may try to take western individualism, modern materialism, or any number of other things and try to make them work in our walk with God, even though they are largely opposed to him.
Instead, we need to start with Jesus and ask how he wants us to live and what he wants us to do. Let us ask God how to shape our lives, rather than trying to rationalize living like everyone else around us. Let us make Jesus the center of our lives and allow him to transform our perspectives, rather than watering him down diluting him to the point that he merely affirms all of our pre-existing ideas and behaviors.
Father God, help me not to conform to the ways of the world; instead, help me be transformed into the likeness of Christ. Amen.
When have you tried to lessen the demands and commands of Jesus? How can you make sure you are following him and not merely our cultural norms?
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