Old or New

Continuing with the thoughts of the last few days about loving God's teachings, I've realized something else. The idea of God's "commandments" makes me nervous!  I've spent quite a bit of time pondering why this is when God has been so good to me and I KNOW he only wants what is best for me.

I've come to realize that mostly it is "old tapes" - ideas and beliefs from childhood that see God as a petty tyrant with a list of demands who is watching everything I do so He can prove what an awful person I am.  I now KNOW that is not the truth of God. God LOVES me! But those old tapes still play from time to time.

And beyond that, there are tapes that say, "these words mean this" and the THIS doesn't always line up with what I know of God as a God of love or sometimes they seem to contradict other of God's words.  As I've been thinking about this, one of Jesus parables was brought to my attention:

Jesus told them this story: "No one takes cloth off a new coat to cover a hole in an old coat. Otherwise, he ruins the new coat, and the cloth from the new coat will not be the same as the old cloth. Also, no one ever pours new wine into old leather bags. Otherwise, the new wine will break the bags, the wine will spill out, and the leather bags will be ruined. New wine must be put into new leather bags. No one after drinking old wine wants new wine, because he says, 'The old wine is better.'" (Luke 5:36-39  NCV)

If I try to pour new wine (new understandings) into old leather bags (me and my old "tapes") it won't work very well.  Somehow I have to lose those old tapes and become a new leather bag!  But HOW?  These words from Corinthians come to mind:

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."  (2 Corinthians 5:17-18  NKJV)

Thank you, Father!  Once again I pray with David, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me!"  I want to be that NEW creature so that your words can penetrate deep and take root in soil that fully accepts them rather than forcing them to fight with the weeds of those old tapes!  Father may I be completely willing to have you in charge of my life!  May I let you lead in all things and seek your guidance always.  My your will INDEED be done on earth, and in my life, as it is in heaven.  Thank you, Father!