God Makes All Things New [A New Covenant] Devotions Day 1

From Poolside to Partnership

Devotional
Imagine learning to swim with an instructor who only shouts directions from the poolside. You hear the commands clearly... "kick harder," "breathe properly," "keep your head up"... but you're still struggling, sinking, and swallowing water. The instructions are good, but they lack the power to actually help you succeed. This perfectly illustrates the difference between the old and new covenants. The old covenant was like that poolside instructor... it gave us God's moral law, the Ten Commandments, and clear instructions on how to live righteously. But it couldn't provide the power to follow those instructions perfectly. No matter how hard we tried, we kept "sinking" into sin and failure. The law wasn't bad... it was actually good and necessary. It showed us God's standard of holiness and revealed our desperate need for help. But it was never meant to be the final solution. It was pointing us toward something better, someone better. Jesus changed everything. Under the new covenant, God doesn't just shout instructions from a distance. Through Jesus and the Holy Spirit, He gets "in the water" with us. He provides not just the instruction, but the motivation and power to live the righteous life He calls us to. This shift changes everything about how we approach our relationship with God. We're no longer striving alone, trying to measure up to an impossible standard. We have a divine partner who is with us every step of the way, empowering us from within.

Bible Verse
But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. - Jeremiah 31:33

Reflection Question
In what areas of your life are you still trying to "swim" on your own, following rules without relying on God's power to help you succeed?

Quote
The old covenant is like the first instructor. It gave moral instructions, the law, but it didn't provide the power to follow them perfectly. This led to condemnation. The new covenant is like the second instructor. God, first with Jesus and now through the Holy Spirit, gets in the water with us, providing the motivation, instruction and the power to live a righteous life.

Prayer
Lord, thank You that You don't leave me to struggle alone with Your commands. Help me to stop trying to earn Your favor through my own efforts and instead rely on Your power working within me. Show me how to live in partnership with You rather than striving in my own strength.