An athlete has a breakout All-Pro season. He tells his agent, “Let’s renegotiate my contract.” A contract is a binding agreement that is based on reciprocal expectations and obligations. Since that athlete’s performance exceeded expectations, he wants a new contract that obligates his team to compensate him more. Do you know when people don’t want to renegotiate a contract? When they aren’t meeting expectations. Imagine that athlete had a horrible season. If he received a new contract at all, it would compensate him less. That is just how contracts work.

Except with God. God made a contract with mankind. Scripture calls it a covenant, a word which emphasizes the relationship between the two parties. This covenant was simple and straightforward. We would honor and serve the Lord as our only God. He would protect us and provide for all our needs. We have not upheld our end of that covenant. We love other things and other people (including ourselves) more than the Lord. We often serve priorities other than his. So, when God says, “Let me give you a new covenant,” you would expect him to pull back his blessings and protection. Nope. In the new covenant, God increases the blessings he provides: forgiveness, peace, strength, and eternal life.