DCLM Daily Manna Tuesday 17 Dec 2024
TOPIC: New Wine In New Bottles
TEXT: Luke 5:33-39 (KJV)
KEY VERSE
“But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.”
Luke 5:38
DCLM Daily Manna Tuesday 17 Dec 2024 Message
In the old days, wine was stored in bottles made of animal skin. A wineskin aged over time, as did also the wine it contained. It was, therefore, common practice to store fresh wine in new, supple wineskins. A new wineskin could handle the natural fermentation that turned fresh wine old. Old wineskins would be hard and brittle, prone to tears and breakages, and could not take the pressure generated by the ageing process of fresh wine.
In our text, the Pharisees and Scribes of Christ’s day were the old wineskins. Armed with the self-righteousness of the law and bound by their traditions, they were unprepared for the new wine of grace and the gospel. The Pharisees were exact about washings and ordinances but cared less for the practical virtues of a life transformed by grace – righteousness, faith and mercy.
READ DCLM Daily Manna Monday 16 December 2024 – Blessed Are Those Who Wait
The Pharisees were wilfully blind; they shut the eyes of their mind to the truth. In Christ’s words, they “strained at a gnat and swallowed a camel.” This means that they were troubled about inconsequential details of the law but made no scruples about violating the significant matters of eternal consequence. Rather than convict and convert, divine rebuke hardened them and fuelled their hatred towards the truth personified.
Being meticulous about ceremonial observances cannot save anyone. Jesus Christ, by His death, has replaced the law of salvation by self-effort with the free grace of God obtained by repentance from sin and faith in Christ’s atoning blood. This is the new wine, friend, and it is yours for free. Just come to Him in repentance. He will not cast you out. That is His promise. Therefore, come now without further delay.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God’s offer of grace is not new but always fresh.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ezekiel 1-2
