The Old Ways

“Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim.” John 2:6-7 (ESV) The first miracle Jesus performed was at a wedding in Cana. The six stone water jars are said to represent the old order of Jewish law and custom. The old order of things said that you must use a stone jar when you purify yourself (stone jars didn’t catch impurities that made people unclean). But now the Lord was preparing to do a new thing. The old ways of purification and sacrificing were about to be fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Christ. The old will pass so the new can come. Jesus was the final and complete sacrifice for our sins. When we receive His gift of salvation, we understand that the Lord is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to “cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). We need not make any purification ceremonies, nor do we need to sacrifice anymore, for He is the Lamb who came to take away the sins of the world. Our challenge today is to examine our life and our ways. From this moment forward let us re-evaluate how we do life, asking ourselves, “Is there anything in my life that doesn’t glorify God? Is there anything the Lord wants me to let go of?” In my old ways, I responded to life with unhealthy tactics (drugs, alcohol, anger, bitterness, etc.). But it was time to change. That old me — that old way — doesn’t live here anymore. I was born again, a new creation in Christ Jesus. — Mark Little Elk   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org