New

I think that "new" is one of the most important words in the Bible. “New” is the name of God’s solution to all the world’s longing, hurt, and brokenness.

The Lord’s people cannot keep up their end of the covenant, so God makes a new covenant. (Jer 31:31; Luke 22:20)

The people don’t have it within themselves to be faithful to the Lord, so the Lord gives them new hearts and a new Spirit. (Eze 36:26-27)

Creation is not as it was meant to be—it’s infected with death, decay, suffering, and scarcity—so God will make a new heaven and a new earth. (Isa 65:17; Rev 21:1-4)

We are not the people we were created to be—we’re infected, with greed, rage, jealousy, lust, and self-absorption—so God makes us new creations in Christ. (2 Cor 5:17)

Isaiah 43:19 sums it all up nicely, when the Lord tells aching and weary people: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” In the wilderness, where you’ve felt so lost and hopeless, I am making a way. In the wasteland, where you feared you’d waste away yourselves, I am pouring out streams. I see your situation, your struggles, and your needs, and I’m doing a new thing for you.

We believe in a God who makes things new (Rev 21:5). God sees the cracks in our lives, sees the jagged edges in this world, sees our frailty and pain and desperation, and, like at creation in Genesis, God takes it in God’s hands, forms it and molds it like the dust of the ground, and breathes new life into it.

At the beginning of January, we’re always thinking about change and fresh starts. “New year, new you,” right? I got an email Monday from a gym offering me a discount on membership, so I can get started on a new lifestyle. There’s not a thing wrong with that – I probably should exercise more – but I hope our horizons this new year, our goals and expectations for transformation, go beyond physical health to include our spiritual wellbeing.

Praying more, or praying better.

Studying and learning scripture more deeply.

Finding new avenues of service.

Beginning the long-avoided work of forgiveness or reconciliation.

Wherever you’re at today, whoever you are right now, God can make you new. God can bring the change you’re longing for—that’s what God does.

What new thing are you hoping to see in your life or in the world around you this year? And how could you be a part of the change you want to see?

This past Sunday I had the rare pleasure of sitting in a church service instead of leading one, and the pastor opened with a New Years prayer that I want to leave you with:

Creative God, you make all things new in heaven and on earth.

We come to you in a new year with new desires and old fears,

        new decisions and old controversies,

        new dreams and old weaknesses.

Because you are a God of hope,

        we know that you create all the possibilities of the future.

Because you are a God of love,

        we know that you accept all the mistakes of the past.

Because you are the God of our faith,

we enter your gates with thanksgiving and praise,

we come into your presence with gladness and a joyful noise,

and we serve and bless you. Amen.

Listen to today's devotional right here!