New vs. Improved

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3-4

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Sometimes it is necessary to start over. Have you ever had a project where it would be easier to start over vs. simply improve what existed? I remember being very frustrated the first few seasons of planting a garden in my yard. I had done everything I could to improve the soil quality. All the conditions were ripe, but the garden produced nothing. I am by no means a great gardener, but the futility I experienced with the easiest to grow specimens was simply ridiculous. And then I tested the soil.

A contaminant made it necessary remove the old and start over with new soil. As hard as I tried to improve the old garden, nothing besides starting over would be productive. Paul speaks about a similar process in Romans 6. It was necessary for a man to be baptized into the death of Christ because there was no way to improve what existed. We needed a new life, and that meant the removal of the old life. Only the Creator through Jesus’ death and resurrection could create the new life needed. As you move through your day, reminder yourself you don’t need to improve. You need to walk in the newness of life that comes from life in Jesus Christ.

DO THIS TODAY: Ask God to create in you a new heart today.