Scripture Focus (NKJV)
“For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.”
— Hebrews 7:18–19
Devotional
Most of us have been trained to live within systems.
From the very beginning of our academic journeys, we learned how to navigate structures built on performance. If we study well, we succeed. If we perform consistently, we advance. If we meet expectations, we are rewarded. Over time, this way of thinking becomes second nature. It shapes how we approach challenges, how we measure progress, and how we evaluate ourselves.
For those of us in healthcare, this mindset is even more deeply ingrained. Everything is structured, measured, and assessed. There is always a next level to reach, a higher standard to meet, and an expectation to maintain. Success is tied to performance, and access is often tied to qualification.
Without realizing it, we can carry that same system into our relationship with God.
We begin to think in subtle ways that if we pray more, read more, or perform better spiritually, then we will be closer to Him. And if we struggle, fall behind, or feel inconsistent, then we must somehow work our way back.
But Hebrews 7 makes a bold and necessary statement.
That system no longer applies.
The writer explains that the former system, built on the law and the Levitical priesthood, was set aside because it could not bring perfection. It could not produce full access to God. It required constant effort, constant mediation, and constant repetition, yet it never fully accomplished what it pointed toward.
It was always meant to be temporary.
What has now been introduced is something entirely different—a better hope through which we draw near to God.
Not earn our way.
Draw near.
This is a completely different framework.
Under the old system, access was restricted and conditional. Under the new covenant, access is open and secured. It is not based on our ability to meet a standard, but on Christ’s finished work.
This is where the tension lies for many of us.
Because we are used to systems where effort produces access.
But in the Kingdom of God, access produces transformation.
I remember a time when I began to realize how much of my spiritual life was shaped by a performance mindset. I would feel more confident approaching God when I had been consistent and disciplined, and less confident when I had struggled. It was subtle, but it revealed that I was still operating as if my access depended on me.
But the truth is, I was trying to apply a system that God had already replaced.
Hebrews 7 reminds us that we are no longer under a system where we earn proximity to God.
We are under a covenant where proximity has already been given.
And from that place of closeness, we are transformed.
For students in healthcare, this truth is deeply freeing.
It means that your relationship with God is not another system you must manage.
It is not another area where you must perform.
It is a relationship you are invited into.
And from that relationship, everything else flows.
You do not have to strive your way into His presence.
You do not have to prove your worth to draw near.
You do not have to wait until you feel “ready” to come.
You can come now.
Because the system you are used to does not apply here.
You are not earning access to God.
You are living from access that has already been given.
And when that truth settles into your heart, it changes everything.
Reflection Questions
Have we been approaching our relationship with God through a performance-based mindset?
In what ways have we been trying to “earn” closeness with Him?
How might our faith look different if we truly believed that access has already been secured?
Application
Today, notice any moment where you feel the need to “qualify” yourself before coming to God. Instead of pulling back, choose to draw near immediately. Remind yourself that access is not earned but given, and allow that truth to reshape how you approach Him.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for replacing the old system with something better. Help us to release the mindset that we must earn our way into Your presence. Teach us to draw near with confidence, knowing that access has already been secured through Christ. Let this truth transform the way we think, the way we approach You, and the way we live.
Amen.