Sick of Religion? Week 4: Devotional Day 6

DAY 6 – Saturday

Daily devotional

Read

Mark 2:20-22; John 3:3

Ask

When you consider the difference Jesus has made to your life, would you say that he has been an “addition” to a way of life you already had, or a radical transformation and a “new” way of life?

Reflect

It’s fascinating to study how the body works. Every day, my cells recreate themselves. My hair grows, my skin sheds off, making room for new skin, my organs flush and revitalize my blood, my circular system constantly creating new blood cells, and so on. When I was young, these systems of creation and renewal were in overdrive, but as I age they slow down until they will eventually fail. When my body stops renewing itself, I will die. New life, as it turns out, is life itself.

When Jesus talks about new wine, new cloth, it’s tempting to only infer that he’s talking about himself in the context of what his life, death, and resurrection bring to the table in the grand scheme of history. But I believe that there’s more to it than that. When the Spirit of Jesus is at work, he brings life, and life means renewal. It’s why Jesus tells Nicodemus in John 3 that one must be “born again” to see the kingdom of God. We need spiritual rebirth to enter into relationship with God, and from henceforth spiritual renewal day by day to sustain life.

This is why we should expect to see spiritual growth of some kind or another in our lives, slow or fast, big or small. As we look backwards and evaluate our lives, the evidence of Jesus’ Spirit at work is newness. Sometimes it may not be evident at the time, but if you are in relationship with Jesus you are in touch with Life Himself, and newness and growth is inevitable.

Take time to journal a bit today. Before you consider what new thing God is doing now, consider where you were ten years ago, five years ago, one year ago. What has God taught you about himself, about yourself? What is new? What remains the same? Invite God to speak to you about these things.