Jeremiah 35:13 – “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, told him, “Go and speak to the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem.  Tell them, ‘I, the Lord, say: “You must learn a lesson from this about obeying what I say.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, a statement in Jeremiah 35:13 stopped me in my tracks.  Somehow, I did not remember reading it before, but it has been there all along.  “Will you not receive discipline by listening to My Words?”

I thought about what Jesus said in John 15:3, as He was talking about the Vine and branches and God’s pruning for fruitfulness.   He said, “You are already clean because of the Word which I have spoken to you.”  The word purges, purifies, prepares, and prunes(disciplines).   In verse 4, He gives the key to victory – “Abide in Me, and I in you…”

Hebrews 10:19-25 is revelatory.  Through the sacrifice of Jesus, which brought us into the New Covenant, we are enabled to come into the Throne Room of heaven.   Jesus gives a new way of living with full access to the Father.   It’s not new as a new car, the latest in a series, but new in a never-before way!  The Grace of God through the Cross brought us a life never lived before.   A life that has no limits.  A life of constant contact with God!  That’s the New Covenant.

Neglecting the sacrifice of Jesus and devaluing His gift is dangerous.  Hebrews 10:29 awed me.  It reveals that doing that“insults the grace of God.” That makes me tremble!  Imagine standing before God having insulted His grace!

One day, we will stand before Him.  One day, the books will be opened.  One day, we will realize fully the value of every word, thought, and deed.  One day, so why not grasp it now and live each moment with complete assurance of the completeness of His Grace, abiding in Him and He in us?  What a difference He makes in our lives when our lives are all about Him.

Lord, discipline (prune) me with Your word and make me fruitful.

May we receive the discipline of the LORD and become the overcomers He has destined us to be!