Tag: Bible

Jesus’ Lesson on Change: New Wine and Old Wineskins

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AMY TURNER

In Luke 5:37–38, Jesus shares a simple image. He says that no one pours new wine into old wineskins, because the wine will cause them to break, spilling everything and ruining the skins. Instead, new wine must go into new wineskins. This lesson came when people questioned why Jesus and His disciples did not fast like others. His answer showed that when God does something new, people must also change how they respond.

As the message of Jesus spread to non-Jewish people, the early church had to rethink many old habits. Some traditions had to be left behind, while others had to be welcomed. This was not always easy, but it was necessary for God’s work to grow.

Today, this lesson still matters. We need to be willing to let go of our old habits, attitudes, and behaviors in order to fully embrace the new life that Jesus offers. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to guide us as we follow God’s fresh direction with willing hearts.

Honoring Parents is a Lifelong Responsibility

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AMY TURNER

The fifth commandment, found in Exodus 20:12, tells us to honour our father and mother so that we may enjoy a long life in the land God has given us. This command does not depend on whether our parents are perfect—because no one has perfect parents. Still, God calls us to show them honour.

As we grow up and leave our parents’ house, we are no longer required to obey them in every matter. However, respect should never end. To honour parents means treating them with dignity, speaking kindly, and never mocking or insulting them. It includes showing them care and trying to bring good into their lives.

Even when our parents are elderly and may live in a care home, we should continue to visit and value them. This is not just a nice gesture—it is our duty as their children. Honouring our parents is a lifelong responsibility that pleases God.

Embracing the Holy Life through God’s Spirit

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AMY TURNER

The Bible teaches us in Romans 7:6 that we are no longer held under the old law, but now live by the Spirit. The law once controlled our actions, but it could not truly change us. Like traffic rules, laws may tell us what to do, but they cannot change how we feel inside. For example, a speed limit cannot take away our desire to drive fast, and signs that tell us to merge cannot make us kind to others on the road.

Real change comes from the inside. This is what God’s Spirit does in us. While the law could only force people to obey outwardly, God’s Spirit helps us to want what is right deep in our hearts. We begin to obey not just because we must, but because we truly want to.

Living a holy life is no longer a heavy task—it becomes something we enjoy. When we fail, we feel sorrow. And when we grow, we are happy, because we want to be more like Jesus. This new way of life is shaped by God’s Spirit, leading us with love, not just rules.

Understanding Identity in Christ Through Obedience

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AMY TURNER

When we hear God’s word but do not follow it, we lose sight of who we really are. James 1:23 compares this to someone who looks in a mirror and then quickly forgets their own face. It sounds strange, because most people remember what they look like after looking in a mirror. But James is making a deeper point—not about how we look, but about our spiritual life.

This verse warns us that simply listening to the Bible is not enough. If we do not act on what we learn, we become spiritually confused. Just like a mirror shows us our physical appearance, God’s word shows us who we truly are. But only when we live out what the Bible teaches do we stay rooted in that truth.

Obeying scripture helps us understand our identity in Christ. Without obedience, our faith becomes weak, and we forget our purpose.

Jesus said in John 14:23, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.” Living by God’s word keeps us strong in faith and clear about who we are.

Love One Another: A New Commandment from Jesus

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AMY TURNER

In the final hours before His death, Jesus gave His disciples a powerful command. In John 13:34, He said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” While the idea of loving others was already known in Jewish teachings, Jesus introduced something different.

This command was not just about kindness or good behaviour—it was rooted in a deeper connection. Much like a young man saying “I love you” in a wedding vow brings new meaning to familiar words, Jesus gave fresh depth to the call to love. He was forming a new bond with His followers, and this new relationship called for a higher standard.

What made His instruction new was the example He gave. The disciples were not simply to love in the way people normally do; they were to love as He had loved them—with sacrifice, patience, and humility.

Today, that same command applies to all who follow Him. We are called to love others in the way Jesus loves us. Isn’t this what we find in 1 John 4:11, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”