Drip New Wine
Let your inheritance of love flow through you as you receive and share the love of Christ.
“When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over. “As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions...I myself will drive them out before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you...This is the inheritance Moses had given when he was in the plains of Moab across the Jordan east of Jericho. But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance; the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he promised them.”
Joshua 13:1, 6, 32-33
Joshua had quite the journey. His life mirrored many of the great pioneers or explorers of the world traveling into lands unknown for the promise to be claimed. As he got to the end of his journey God said something profound. He said there is more work to do. There is more land to be claimed. The promise I give you is greater than what you have claimed.
There is an awakening that can occur within us when we realize that our stories are part of a bigger story. We step into history for a brief time, but it is all God's story. There is more work to be done because God is still writing the story of salvation. He writes it for a time in and through those who open their hearts and faithfully serve Him. Then He writes more of the story through the next heart that is humble and willing. Have you taken time to consider how you fit into God's story? How does that shape your perspective?
One of the definitions of sin is forfeiting an inheritance. Joshua lived a full life and claimed land for the kingdom as part of God's promise, but do you wonder what he was thinking when God said there was more? Do you think he wondered if he could have done more? One of the most common goals of those who walk by faith is to one day hear the words well done my good and faithful servant. This story reminds us that we can hear those words, but we are unlikely to hear that it is all done. We are just part of the story of salvation and we are called to do all we can while we can.
“From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth...Gather to me this consecrated people, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice...the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for he is a God of justice. I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills...Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you...Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation.”
Psalms 50:2, 5-6, 9-12, 14-17, 23
David had a beautiful relationship with God. He saw the generosity and goodness. He experienced the grace and guidance. He recognized that when God called him to be generous or offer sacrifices it was not because God wanted from him, but for him. God says do you think I need your sacrifices? Giving is never meant to be an obligation rather it is an opportunity to experience the joy and see the impact of generosity.
What does God desire? He says a thank you. He says offer thank offerings. How does offering a thank offering change our hearts or shape our thinking? Does it not help free us to allow God's love to flow more freely through us? Every time we say thank you we remove the barrier of selfishness or self-focus that can block the river of blessing.
“How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful!...You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you. How delightful is your love...How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume more than any spice! You are a garden fountain, a well of flowing water streaming down from Lebanon."
Song of Songs 4:1, 7, 10, 15-16
How would you describe yourself? Have you ever taken the time to sit silently, closing your eyes and ask Jesus to reveal anything the world has called you that is not true? Have you ever asked Jesus what He calls you? One of the best practices that can purify our hearts, minds, and souls is to practice listening prayer. Listen to the voice of truth speak to you.
What will you hear when you listen to Jesus? He will speak to you like Solomon did in this text. He calls you beautiful and beloved. He calls you a garden fountain and wants to flow the living water of his grace through you. Will you take time today to receive the words of the Savior today?
“In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land. Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack. Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, “I am strong!” Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe...the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people...In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house and will water the valley of acacias."
Joel 3:1-2, 9-10, 13-18, 21
There is a truth in scripture that can get lost when we use a worldly mindset. The truth is that you are made new. If you look at the experiences of your life and your own skillset it is likely that everything you know is about growth or improvement. You can have a better diet and lose weight. You will see improvement. If you practice a skill or gain competency at work you can improve in your credibility or capability. It is good to always be growing and challenging ourselves, but there is a difference between improvement and something that is made new.
God says he will pour out new wine, the hills will flow with milk and a fountain will flow out of the house of the Lord. Jesus said that you do not put new wine in old wineskins. The imagery here is God pouring out blessings into and through His people, but something radical happens when we realize that what God is doing is something completely new. We are not just better versions of our old selves. We are new creations born of the spirit with new wineskin. Can you see the difference? Are you living out your life with the mindset that you are altogether beautiful, a new creation, and you have the resurrected spirit flowing from heaven in and through you? The bigger picture is realizing that you are a new creation who is made to do new things as part of God's ultimate story of salvation.
“Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him."
Titus 1:7-8, 10, 15-16
Paul begins the book of Titus by writing about what the new life looks like as one who is an overseer managing God's household. What does that phrase mean to you? Is it not the same call that Joshua had as a shepherd and leader of God's people in the promised land? Is it not similar to the call that David had as a king and shepherd of the people. We have the same calling. God gives gifts to each of us to be people who help bring the kingdom and advance the story of salvation.
What does Paul describe in the life of an overseer? A life that is completely new, blameless, and born of the spirit. The standards Paul sets would be impossible for any person who lives the old life according to the law or the flesh. It is only when we are born of the Spirit that we are able to always be hospitable, loving good, embracing a disciplined approach to living, staying upright, holy and pure. It is Jesus who models and the Spirit that empowers us to live in this way. We do not do it in our own strength through self-improvement. We do this by living a life devoted to God by the Spirit. Where have you been trying to just do better but God wants you to simply be Spirit led and set free as you are sanctified by the blood?
Paul says it your actions that will define whether you love God and are faithful to the relationship with Him. It is your actions that will determine if you hear the words well done good and faithful or why did you deny me? Paul says choose devotion and do the best you can by the Spirit at work within you because there is work to be done. You will not accomplish all things that need to be done for all the salvation of mankind in your lifetime, but you can do for the one that which you wish you could do for everyone. You can live like Joshua and know that God is smiling when He says there is still more work to do.