Sometimes “new” matters a lot. Today is the first Sunday of a new year, meaning everything that is required to be dated for the next 51 weeks will say 2024. Today is the first day of a new week, which is VERY important to Christians because it is the ONLY day authorized for taking the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7).
You are probably aware that all pillows sold in the United States must be made of only new materials and by law must also have a firmly attached white label with black letters that clearly says so. While few of us are vintners (wine makers) and even if we were we would not be using animal skins as containers, the Lord applied the concept of sometimes there is a need for new things (Mat 9:17). Let’s notice a few “new things” mentioned in scripture?
“This is My blood of the new covenant...” (Mat 26:28).
“In the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid” (Jn 19:41).
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Cor 5:17).
“Put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph 4:24).
“You have come to ... Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant” (Heb 12:22-24).
“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful’“ (Rev 21:5).
“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col 3:5-10).
As we start a new year of life what “old” things need to be given up and what “new” things started? Make a list and do it.
-Tim Orbison
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