An Old Cloak

Mark 2: 21-22 "No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins."

Jesus was explaining to the people why his disciples were not fasting like the disciples of John and the Pharisees. Fasting would not be appropriate behavior in the presence of their Lord and master. Their time to fast would come, but it had not yet arrived.

Appropriate behavior. This is pretty consistently an issue for me. I am a Christian and have recently become a pastor but I'm also a guy who works in warehouses with other guys. I've worked in these warehouses with these guys for a lot longer than I've been a committed follower of Christ. God Almighty is not the only god I have bowed to in my time either. The point that I'm trying to make here is that I've learned a lot of bad behavior over the years, and Jesus didn't drive these behaviors out when He came to reign in my heart. When the pressure is on and tempers flare at work my behavior is often not what I would consider appropriate. It has become pretty clear to me that it is my responsibility to have the appropriate attitude and words to reflect the Lord that now dwells within me. Weather or not I will sacrifice my pride, my anger, my sense of justice and my desire to get a good laugh, regardless of the cost, is the question that I am faced with countless times every day. If I am willing to put aside my whatever, His grace replaces my bad habits and behaviors. This is the sacrifice that I am called to make for Him, for my co-workers and really, for myself. It hurts me more and more every time that I make the wrong choice and realize that an opportunity has been lost. That I am still willing to crucify Christ hurts me and those around me.

Father God, please lead me to sacrifice my sense of self importance and lay it at Your feet. May I faithfully put aside myself and bear this cross daily. Amen.