He Doesn't Do Patches

Jesus drew from the struggles of everyday living when He used wineskins to illustrate the difficulty of moving into something new. He said it doesn’t work to sew new material onto old material. If we do, “the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins. . . .” (Mk. 2:21,22 NIV)

This illustration could be disheartening because we all have a past, and our past experience puts us alongside all the other old garments or old wineskins! If new wine stands for a new or fresh touch from God, our past poses problems and we won’t be able to receive a new touch from God.

But God doesn’t patch something when it needs fixing—He doesn’t do patches. Rather, He transforms. He changes the entire garment or vessel. He not only pours out new wine, He prepares the vessel or heart that will receive it.

If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. . . . (II Cor. 5:17a NIV)

Originally published June 14, 1985.