New Wineskins
Last Sunday we sang a new song called “New Wine.” I picked the song because Jerimiah was preaching on the parable of the wineskins and I thought it would fit nicely. After digging more into the song, I came across a scripture that fits the lyrics in a profound way. It’s found in 2 Corinthians:
2 Corinthians 1:9-10
"Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again."
The context to this is that the Apostle Paul has been experiencing hardship and affliction due to the proclamation of the Gospel in Asia. He writes a letter to the Corinthian church to encourage them amidst their own struggles. One of the notable things I gather from this story is that rather than using his affliction to garner sympathy or aid, he uses it to strengthen his brothers and sisters in Christ in their trials. What a remarkable example for us. Paul uses the crushing and pressing, and he turns it into wine to nourish and build the church.
May we also use our own suffering to point others to Christ. Furthermore, Paul never loses hope that God will deliver him and neither should we.
If you have a few minutes listen to this song again and ask the Lord to help you maintain hope in the valley and strength to encourage others to do the same.
Looking forward to worshipping with you Sunday.
-Matt