Title: Renew your mind
Contents In today's text, Jesus is giving two parables. Both parables are the same. In the past, if clothes were torn or had holes, they were sewn with similar fabrics. When I see you and wear that kind of clothes, you might say, 'When I bought a new one, I bought it and never wore it.' “How do you dress because you are embarrassed?” It will roar. Anyway, it was like that in the past. A new, never-washed cloth will shrink when washed in water and dried. So, if you tilt a new piece of cloth against an old garment, the new piece of cloth will pull on the old garment, which will not only have no energy effect, but will only add to the breakup. So, when mending old worn-out clothes, you should take old pieces of fabric and mend them.
The second parable is to put new wines in new wineskins. In the past, wine was stored in skinskins. In other words, after the whole skin of sheep or goats was peeled off, the rest of the skin except for the neck was tilted again and used as a container for liquids such as wine. Leather sacks made of new leather are soft and flexible and must be used for storing new wine. This is because old skins are inflexible, and when new wine is put in, they cannot withstand the fermenting power of the new wine and burst.
Today, I would like to share grace with you through this parable. Each person has their own frame of thought. So, when you receive information from the outside, you interpret it using your own frame of thought. As a result, different people will react differently. This is where misunderstandings occur and communication difficulties arise. But the important thing is that what you think determines your life. So we need to renew our thinking. You need to renew your thinking, especially about love and suffering.
1. Love is God.
There is nothing more powerful than love. The reason we exist is actually because of love. However, many youths can't bear the sadness and pain due to the failure of love and give up on themselves. So he says he doesn't even know what happiness is. “I have lost hope,” he says. On the other hand, when I see the love of teenagers who meet easily and break up easily, I think about true love. Dear young people, it is you who really need the modeling of true love. You don't know how important it is how you feel about love as a teenager. If you know and learn the love shown in movies and dramas as true love, you will shed tears of bitterness and pain because of that love. I hope you can renew the idea that in order to learn love, you can read a romance novel or watch a romantic movie or drama.
“You are the best work God has ever made.
Don't be swayed by failures, weaknesses, or circumstances.
Let's go before God, who reveals exactly who you are, every day.
Let us dwell in the goodness of God and keep our hearts and minds firm.
You will surely fully enjoy the blessings God has prepared for you.”
2. Suffering is a shadow of glory.
When we go through the tunnel of hardship, we often say, “Why me!” and fall into anger or discouragement. It doesn't change anything by resenting or complaining in a difficult situation. Rather, the more you do it, the more easily your shoulders will sag and you will feel depressed. Our perspective on suffering is important. Studying may be difficult for you. Studying is probably the most stressful thing. Now, everyone, studying may be the greatest hardship for you now, but you should know that countless hardships await you. If you are frustrated and give up in the face of hardship each time, happiness will gradually become farther from you. If hardship is an unavoidable mountain, wouldn't it be better to climb that mountain altogether? If hardship is an unavoidable river, wouldn't it be better to learn to swim and cross that river? So, I hope that you can get rid of the idea that suffering is tormenting you. Please stop thinking that hardships are hard on me and make me fall. The Bible speaks of suffering:
“The afflictions we are experiencing now are what we will face in the future.
It brings eternal and immeasurable great glory.” 2 Corinthians 4:17
That's right. Suffering will bring glory in your life. Therefore, no matter how difficult the study is, I want the heart to be a tree with a strong wick. I do not want you to kneel down in front of suffering as much as your heart. To do that, we must have a new way of thinking about suffering. I hope that you will be able to view the hardships that are approaching you as a shadow of glory. If suffering does not deprive you of the enthusiasm and joy that is within you, you will be victors over adversity. And you will see yourself growing bigger by taking advantage of your hardships. And you will be proud to see yourself like that. Lastly, I hope you do not forget that God is on your side.
conclusion
Let go of the thoughts that frustrate you and discourage you, and renew your mind with the word of God. I hope that God's love can fill your thoughts first. And I hope you can think positively about suffering. Then no matter what hardships you face, you will be victorious. If you embrace God in your mind and heart, you will become a channel of blessing. I pray that the Holy Spirit of God will come upon all of you at this time and renew you.