22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. – Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)
A big part of being a disciple of Jesus isn’t just that we need to learn new things; we must also unlearn a lot of old things, too. A new attitude, new thought patterns, and new desires can only be birthed by submitting our new self to Jesus and allowing Him to renew us. We won’t hunger and thirst for righteousness until we’re no longer full of our old way of life. It’s then that Jesus can fill us to overflowing. We won’t become all that He intends us to be – holy as He is holy – until we recognize that a new thing in Jesus is better than any old things we might cling to.
Does this mean we just sit back with our arms folded and say, “OK, Jesus, do your thing – I’ll be waiting right here.”? No! As much as there is a passive element to our renewal (meaning, Jesus through His Holy Spirit makes us new), there is also an active element that requires our participation. Mainly in that we are committing to and intentionally choosing to putting off our old selves. We are turning away from our old sinful life and not looking back. We are spending time with Jesus in His Word and in prayer. We are investing in relationships with other Christians who can disciple us. We don’t do these things because it’s the good, religious thing to do. We do them because we actively meet and engage with Jesus in them.
When we pray and fast for renewal, Jesus is faithful to meet us there. Are you everything Jesus desires you to be? No. Are you who you once were? I hope not. Does the Holy Spirit want to renew you from the inside out and make you like Jesus? Absolutely!
What about your former way of life needs to be put off in order for you to be renewed? What transformation in your life is Jesus longing to make?
How might our church need renewal? What old wineskins might need to be laid aside in order to be filled to overflowing with the new wine Jesus wants to lavishly pour out?