New Every Morning

Tom Barnard

 

“For if a man is in Christ he becomes a new person altogether—

the past is finished and gone, everything has become fresh and new.

All this is God’s doing.”

(2 Corinthians 5:17, 18 – J.B. Phillips)

 

“What he (Jesus) desired was a new will, a new purpose, a new dominating impulse,

arising out of one’s loyalty to God, which should activate a new type of man,

so revolutionary in character that this change was likened to a new birth.”

Harland E. Hogue

 

Recently I exchanged cars. My ’04 Ford Freestar went to New York; a nice clean ’08 Ford Taurus X has taken its place in my driveway. I loved the ’04. It was everything I expected it to be. It had a lot of life left in it. I had no complaints of any kind. But this ’08 is really something! Great color. Great design. Great workmanship. I love this car. But it won’t always look, smell, and drive like it does now. When it has 75,000 miles on it, it will exhibit some normal wear and tear. Time takes a toll on everything designed and created by humans.

 

How different God’s workmanship is! He takes an old “clunker”—high mileage and tired looking—and almost immediately His transforming power turns that “clunker” into something brand new. And God keeps and maintains that person just like that. Forever. The author of “Lamentations” surely understood this when he wrote, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (3:22, 23).  

 

Heavenly Father, I praise you today for your faithfulness. It truly is great. It never wears out. It is new every morning. You take damaged goods and you create something fresh and new. You make each day an adventure. You bring your wisdom and life to everyone who turns to you in faith. You accept the praises of your saints, and you hear the cries of the downtrodden. You never disappoint. Help me to carry this good news with me right through the week ahead.  In the strong name of your Son I pray. Amen.