Christ Church Daily Devotion May 12 2024

In this Daily Devotion, we read from Jeremiah and John, discussing the new covenant that God will make with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant involves putting God's law in their minds and hearts, and forgiving their sins. John 3:16-17 further explains that God sent his Son to save the world, not to condemn it. These passages show the connection between Jeremiah's prophecy and the new covenant through Jesus Christ. As believers, we are called to share this covenant and lead others to God. Our faith is built on this covenant, and we honor it by loving God and loving people. Join us at Christ Church to worship and celebrate this covenant. Welcome to Christ Church's Daily Devotion for May 12, 2024. Today we will be reading from Jeremiah chapter 31, verses 31-34 and John 3, verses 16-17. The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them, declares the Lord. This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel. After that time, declares the Lord, I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor or say to one another, know the Lord, because they will all know me. From the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord, for I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. I don't know that I have ever put these two passages of scripture together before, but they certainly have a connection. In the days of the exile, the prophet Jeremiah spoke on behalf of God to tell of a new covenant that God would make with each person. God would provide a way through which every person could have a personal relationship with God. John 3.16 describes that new covenant. Every person who believes in what God did through Jesus Christ gets to experience that relationship and be part of that covenant. John 3.17 then reminds us that this covenant relationship with God is more than just between us and God. It is also connected to how we relate to other people. John lets us know that Jesus was not sent to condemn people, but to save them. The people of Christ are therefore also not sent to condemn people, but to save them by leading them into the same covenant relationship with God through Jesus. Foundational to our faith is the covenant that God established long ago with us humans. That covenant was completed and is offered freely through Jesus Christ. We honor that covenant by doing what we were reminded about yesterday. Love God and love people. Your personal worship option is to join us today at Christ Church as we worship and celebrate our covenant-making God. Ideally, join us in person, and even more ideally, bring someone with you. If circumstances prevent you from attending in person, be sure to participate online. May we all stay connected to this God who is constantly seeking and sending us.