Skip to main content

No More Patch Work! The Kingdom Key of Old & New

READ | Matthew 5:14-17

“...I will give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the

garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; and they will be called trees

of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, and God will be glorified

(Isaiah 61:3).” Seamstresses make a lot of money repairing old clothes: letting them out here and taking them in there. They add patches to holes in the elbows of sweaters or the knees of pants. They stitch up tears and replace old buttons. In Jesus’ parable, God is not calling us to patch up our old garments. God desires to give us new garments.

We are so used to recycling plastic, repairing cars, reupholstering furniture, renewing contracts, and reviving plants that it is often challenging for us to embrace the idea of something new. Even though it may be a better use of our resources to buy something new, our attachment to the old causes us to keep investing in improving it. Old has nothing to do with age; it is about efficiency and excellence. It is time to get rid of all that is old, worn, obsolete, and unproductive so that we can be relevant and effective.

In today’s text, God is offering an exchange. To receive the garment of praise, we must let go of the spirit of heaviness. Many of us attempt to mix the garment of praise and the spirit of heaviness. That just does not work. They cannot coexist. One replaces the others. For us to be new there are some old ways of being, seeing, thinking, speaking, and behaving that we must get rid of forever. During this time of consecration, take inventory of the physical and metaphysical garments that you wear.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Refocus Your Faith: How to Overcome Distraction, Disappointment, and Discouragement

  Refocus Your Faith: How to Overcome Distraction, Disappointment, and Discouragement "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."   Galatians 5:6 (KSB)    With everything going on around us, it's easy to feel lost. Distractions come quickly, disappointments pile up, and discouragement sneaks in. We all face these moments. But even when we get off track, there is a way back and that path is through our faith, principles, and core values.  When you live your life anchored in principles, it gives you a compass for when the road gets unclear. Knowing your vision, your mission, and your core values makes it easier to realign when life feels out of control. But if you don’t know who you are, how can you get back to being your best self? If you don’t know what you stand on, what can you stand up on after a fall?    Clarity of purpose keeps you ...
Post a Comment
Read more
  Why Me? God’s Glory (Romans 8:18) Why? That's a question often in our Souls. Why is this happening to me? Why am I having this experience? Why am I facing this health challenge? There's an answer! Why am I having these relationship challenges? There’s an answer, and it’s the same one. Why am I having this financial challenge? There’s an answer! There’s an answer to every question in your Soul, and the answer is glory. The reason for every experience in your life is so that God can get the glory. The purpose of all our challenges is not to bring us down but to transform us and bring glory to God. Why am I having this test, this trial, this tribulation? So God can get the glory. Why am I experiencing this persecution, this headache, this pain? So, God can get the glory. Why am I witnessing this miracle, sign, or wonder? So, God can get the glory. Why am I having this challenge in my local assembly, in my ministry, in my business, and in my organization? So God can get the...
Post a Comment
Read more

There’s a Grace on Your Life

  There’s a Grace on Your Life "By grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."    Ephesians 2:8 (KSB)    In Ephesians chapter 2, one word stands out repeatedly: grace . But what is grace? Grace is God’s unmerited favor, His love poured out on us, not based on anything we've done or failed to do. It’s not about what we think or don’t think. It’s simply a gift. A beautiful, divine surprise.  Imagine receiving an unexpected bonus at work, you did your job, and suddenly you're given more than you earned. That’s grace. It comes when you least expect it and fills you with joy and wonder. This is how God extends His grace freely, abundantly, and lovingly.  Throughout Ephesians 2, Paul highlights how grace is woven into our salvation. “By grace you are saved” means you didn’t do it yourself. Salvation is the awakening in your spirit to the truth that  you are God's beloved .   ...
Post a Comment
Read more