God Makes All Things New [A New Covenant] Devotions Day 4

From Performance to Relationship

Devotional
Many of us grew up with a performance-based understanding of love and acceptance. We learned that approval came through good grades, good behavior, and meeting expectations. Unfortunately, we often carry this same mentality into our relationship with God, believing we must perform to earn His love and acceptance. Under the old covenant, there was indeed a performance element... follow the law perfectly, and you'll be blessed; break it, and face consequences. But this system was never meant to be permanent. It was designed to show us that perfect performance is impossible and that we desperately need a different way to connect with God. The new covenant completely shifts our focus from performance to relationship. Salvation doesn't come through what we do, but through what Jesus has done. We're not accepted because we're good enough, but because Jesus was good enough on our behalf. We don't maintain our relationship with God through perfect behavior, but through faith in His perfect love. This doesn't mean our actions don't matter... they absolutely do. But now our good works flow from our secure relationship with God rather than being an attempt to earn that relationship. We serve God not because we have to prove ourselves, but because we're responding to His incredible love and grace. When you truly grasp this truth, it's incredibly freeing. You can stop trying to earn what you already have. You can rest in the security of God's unconditional love. Your relationship with God becomes about intimacy, not performance; about love, not law; about grace, not guilt.

Bible Verse
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. - Ephesians 2:8-10

Reflection Question
In what ways are you still trying to earn God's love through performance rather than resting in the relationship He's already given you?

Quote
This principle shifts our focus from performance to relationship.

Prayer
God, help me to stop trying to earn what You've already freely given me. I want to live from the security of Your love, not for the approval I think I need to gain. Transform my heart so that my actions flow from relationship, not performance.