Old Covenant or New, Man's Sufficiency or God's
Ink records words; the Spirit imparts life. One fades on paper—the other transforms the heart.
Devotional Credit: Day by Day by Grace
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Today’s devotional by Bob Hoekstra contrasts two ways of living: one based on man’s own sufficiency and effort (the old covenant), and the other based on the sufficiency of God through the Spirit (the new covenant). The imagery of ink versus the Spirit helps highlight the radical difference. Ink represents natural, human capability—something anyone can access but which ultimately lacks life-giving power. It symbolizes self-effort, law-keeping, and performance without divine life.
By contrast, the new covenant is written by the Spirit of the living God on the hearts of believers. Rather than trying to live for God using tools from the kingdom of man, the believer yields to the indwelling life of Christ and lets the Spirit express God's life through them.
This isn't just a doctrinal point—it’s the turning point for the Christian walk. Every time we attempt to live the Christian life by self-effort, moral striving, or religious performance, we revert to ink. But when we rest in the Spirit's work within, God's sufficiency flows through us. The new covenant is not a call to do more, try harder, or become better. It is an invitation to let the Holy Spirit write Christ’s life in us, day by day.
Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
I have made you sufficient, not through law but through My Spirit. You are no longer bound to live by the letter, which brings death, but by the Spirit, who gives life. I have taken away the veil from your heart and opened your eyes in Christ. What once was hidden is now your daily reality. You are a letter of Christ, not written with ink or sustained by natural strength, but written by Me—the Spirit of the living God.
Let your confidence no longer rest in what you can do. Your sufficiency is not from yourself but from Me. The glory of the old has faded, but the glory of this new life is increasing day by day. Where I am, there is liberty. And as you look to Me with unveiled face, you are being transformed from glory to glory, not by your trying, but by My working.
Keep your eyes fixed on the One who is your life. Depend no longer on ink, but on Me. I am the ink that lives.
Scripture references: 2 Corinthians 3:3, 3:6, 3:14, 3:17-18
Real-Life Analogy
Have you ever tried to clean a tough stain with water alone, scrubbing with all your effort, only to realize that you needed a specific cleaning solution to make any progress? Your scrubbing was sincere—but powerless. But once you used the right solution, the stain lifted effortlessly. That’s the difference between living by your own sufficiency and living by God’s. The law is like scrubbing with water—it tells you what’s wrong but gives you no power to change it. The Spirit is like the solution that does the work in you and through you. When you stop striving and let Him work, the results follow—effortlessly and supernaturally.
Prayer of Confidence
Father, I thank You that I no longer need to live by ink—by my own resources, strength, or religious effort. I rejoice that Your Spirit is writing Christ’s life into my heart, moment by moment. I trust You to express Yourself through me today, not because I am sufficient, but because You are. I rest in Your sufficiency, yield to Your leading, and welcome the transforming work of Your Spirit. Thank You for the liberty that comes in this new covenant of grace.