My acquaintance in Norfolk is a boat... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

Jesus answered: … Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again.
John 3:7

My acquaintance in Norfolk is a boat builder. He is a reliable craftsman. When he discovers a weak spot on an old boat he doesn’t just putty it up, but he carefully cleans it up and puts new, good wood in the place of the rotten material. He is proud of the good work he does for his satisfied customers. For a long time, he thought he could also please God through good works. To the outside world, everything seemed to be in order in his life.

One day I came to him as he stood by a newly painted boat. “A new boat?” I asked. “No, just refurbished,” he replied. – “It looks brand new, though. The paint is new, and I can’t spot a single patch.” – “Yes,” he remarked, “but I know the spots because I have done the work. It may all look very good to you, and yet you can’t call an overhauled boat a new boat.” – “Quite right,” I answered him, “and neither can you call a sinful man a new man, however good the veneer he puts on himself with good works. You must be born anew! No man can really change or refine his character, his nature. But God can create something completely new out of you.”

On that day, the boat builder admitted to himself that he could not become a new man by his own power. He admitted before God that he was a sinner. And then he was able to experience that “in Christ” there is no patchwork, but something completely new.

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.
Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin!
Julia Harriett Johnston (1849–1919)

Today’s reading: 2 Kings 18:26-37 · 1 John 4:15-21