Thus says the Lord: "Stand in the way and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is. And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls." Jeremiah 6:16 NKJV

 

I know, I know - yesterday it was "in with the new." Today it is "in with the old." The truth is ? I believe that both are true.

 

As certainly as I must receive the untamable Spirit of God, poured out on me, to walk with God, I must also prepare my new wineskin the old way. I think when Jesus was illustrating the inadequacy of "old" religion - deadened by insincerity and hypocrisy - He was condemning the "jug to mug" variety of spirituality, where the ?teacher' spews the party line about what ?should' be believed and practiced, and the student took notes and passed tests so they could graduate to the next level of church school.

 

God's word to Jeremiah is a reminder that spirituality, Christ-style, is a way. A path. And men and women have been practicing the habits that make up the ?old paths' for thousands of years. Until lately, historically speaking, when we became so ?smart' that we re-invented spirituality and pursued God on our own terms. While I make no stabs of accusation at contemporary ?styles' (considering that I delight in many things contemporary), I do cry out an alert that as we mutate methods to adapt to our cultural environment, we would do well to remember and walk in the old paths as well.

 

Old paths such as contemplation. Fasting. Self-denial. Service. Silence. Solitude. Prayer. Study. Memorization.

 

And there are many others. The point is, what are you doing differently to attain new levels of intimacy with God? What are you doing differently in order that God might by His Spirit change you, so that you follow Jesus more closely? Where do you want to go? And what will it take .. what will you do, to get there?

 

On an old path to a new destination,

harry