Warp and Woof:
The underlying structure or foundation of something, as in "He foresaw great changes in the warp and woof of the nation's economy." This expression, used figuratively since the second half of the 1500s, alludes to the threads that run lengthwise (warp) and crosswise (woof) in a woven fabric. (Wikipedia 8/10/09)
The Lord is looking into the warp and woof of our hearts, examining the underlying structure of our lives in order that He may fill us to overflowing with Himself. He is seeking to pour out new wine, but preparation must be made. In response to accusations that Jesus’s disciples were not as pious as John’s disciples, who fasted regularly, Jesus had this to say: "You cannot mend old fabric with a new piece of fabric, nor can you put old wine into new wine skins." It is unwise because the violent fermentation process would burst the old, hard, dry, wineskins, spilling the precious wine and destroying the skins (Dake Study Bible). New wine requires new wineskins. Reading this passage many times, I often puzzled over what this had to do with fasting.
In speaking of the new wine and wineskins, Jesus uses two distinct Greek words to convey the meaning of the word, new. When speaking of wineskins, Jesus uses the Greek word, kainos, meaning, renewed, as in renewed wineskins. But when speaking of the wine, Jesus uses a different word for new, naos, meaning new, new in time, as in brand new. We must be renewed to receive the new wine. In Jesus’s day, wineskins were renewed by soaking them in oil to make them soft and pliable (Dake). Are we soft, pliable, able to expand and contain the Spirit of God?Many things makes us inflexible, but they all share one thing in common: human rationale, earthly reasoning (Isaiah 55). In other words, unbelief. We cannot hear what the Spirit is saying when we are attached to our own human perspective and rationale. God cannot and will not pour costly wine into hard, inflexible wine skins, for it would wreak destruction in our lives and waste the costly wine. For this wine was purchased with the costly sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is not to be wasted.
"When the Bridegroom is gone, then they will fast." Let us break up the fallow ground of our hearts with seeking and fasting. Let us run after him until we are so immersed in Him, and He in us, that it is difficult to tell the two apart. For as He was in this world, so are we. May we yield as He searches our hearts with His jealous gaze, as He goes deep into the warp and woof of our lives, passionately preparing hearts that are able to both receive, and contain, more of Him.
I think that this would make a good classified want ad: “God Seeking Creation: A whole-hearted, passionate God who loves beauty, goodness, and righteousness. Enjoys long walks on the beach and intimate conversation, who gave everything for love... seeks like-minded people to love Him in return.“ ...Oh, may I just suggest something? Have a love affair with the lover of your soul! He is willing to pour out over us as much as we desire. God is a passionate God. He gave everything for you and me. There was nothing else for him to give! He is drawn to our passion. Seek him while he may be found, for the hour is late and we must be filled so that we may endure. Do you not feel that this is true?
Hosea 10:12 says to “ Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord till he come and rain righteousness upon you.”
The underlying structure or foundation of something, as in "He foresaw great changes in the warp and woof of the nation's economy." This expression, used figuratively since the second half of the 1500s, alludes to the threads that run lengthwise (warp) and crosswise (woof) in a woven fabric. (Wikipedia 8/10/09)
The Lord is looking into the warp and woof of our hearts, examining the underlying structure of our lives in order that He may fill us to overflowing with Himself. He is seeking to pour out new wine, but preparation must be made. In response to accusations that Jesus’s disciples were not as pious as John’s disciples, who fasted regularly, Jesus had this to say: "You cannot mend old fabric with a new piece of fabric, nor can you put old wine into new wine skins." It is unwise because the violent fermentation process would burst the old, hard, dry, wineskins, spilling the precious wine and destroying the skins (Dake Study Bible). New wine requires new wineskins. Reading this passage many times, I often puzzled over what this had to do with fasting.
In speaking of the new wine and wineskins, Jesus uses two distinct Greek words to convey the meaning of the word, new. When speaking of wineskins, Jesus uses the Greek word, kainos, meaning, renewed, as in renewed wineskins. But when speaking of the wine, Jesus uses a different word for new, naos, meaning new, new in time, as in brand new. We must be renewed to receive the new wine. In Jesus’s day, wineskins were renewed by soaking them in oil to make them soft and pliable (Dake). Are we soft, pliable, able to expand and contain the Spirit of God?Many things makes us inflexible, but they all share one thing in common: human rationale, earthly reasoning (Isaiah 55). In other words, unbelief. We cannot hear what the Spirit is saying when we are attached to our own human perspective and rationale. God cannot and will not pour costly wine into hard, inflexible wine skins, for it would wreak destruction in our lives and waste the costly wine. For this wine was purchased with the costly sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is not to be wasted.
"When the Bridegroom is gone, then they will fast." Let us break up the fallow ground of our hearts with seeking and fasting. Let us run after him until we are so immersed in Him, and He in us, that it is difficult to tell the two apart. For as He was in this world, so are we. May we yield as He searches our hearts with His jealous gaze, as He goes deep into the warp and woof of our lives, passionately preparing hearts that are able to both receive, and contain, more of Him.
I think that this would make a good classified want ad: “God Seeking Creation: A whole-hearted, passionate God who loves beauty, goodness, and righteousness. Enjoys long walks on the beach and intimate conversation, who gave everything for love... seeks like-minded people to love Him in return.“ ...Oh, may I just suggest something? Have a love affair with the lover of your soul! He is willing to pour out over us as much as we desire. God is a passionate God. He gave everything for you and me. There was nothing else for him to give! He is drawn to our passion. Seek him while he may be found, for the hour is late and we must be filled so that we may endure. Do you not feel that this is true?
Hosea 10:12 says to “ Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord till he come and rain righteousness upon you.”
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