Lincoln Brewster - OxygenSample

Renovation

Devotional for the song "Made New"

Unless you're blessed by being married to Mr. or Mrs. Fix-It, the choice between moving into a brand-new home vs. renovating a used model is a no-brainer. Move into the new model, the one with brand new carpet, and shiny stainless steel appliances, and more importantly, little to no effort involved. That's a much easier approach – getting something brand new rather than putting in the work to make something new out of something a little old or worn down or out of style.

Renovation is not for those who like the easy road.

If we're not careful that mindset can bleed over into other areas of our lives, areas that are a little less brick and mortar and a little more flesh and blood. It can seem much easier to walk away from whatever old, troublesome relationships we have – whether with a spouse or friend or even a church – and find a new one than choosing to stay and be a part of the renovation work needed. Yes, sometimes it is wise to move on, but maybe that should be the exception. As things are, too many times that's the rule.

Renovation is not for those who would rather run than stay.

What if God had taken that mindset with us? It would have probably been much easier after repeated sins and shortcomings for Him to look at us and decide to simply walk away and find someone new to love. But He didn't do that. God is committed to making us new, and what's more, He's not looking around for some brand-new materials to use. No, He's using our existing lives, with all of our successes, failures, dreams, and disappointments. And He's renovating us, making something new from something old.

Renovation requires sacrificial commitment and continued forgiveness.

It's quite telling in Revelation 21 what God does NOT say. He doesn't say, "I am making all new things." Instead He says, "I am making everything new." God's restorative, redemptive work is using the materials at hand, our lives as they are right now. He's patiently doing the finishing work of grace to accomplish His will for our lives.

To allow Christ's love to surround us and make us new is to co-labor with Him in the renovation not only of our individual souls, but of the entire groaning world around us.