DATE POSTED
Tuesday, June 24, 2025, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa at Hunter Road, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read Jeremiah 31:33-34 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the New Living Translation (NLT).

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you have taken a moment to read the Scripture I referenced above, so that my thoughts here will make more sense to you. Jeremiah was used by God to warn the Israelites about the discipline that would come to them. However, as we see in these verses today, he also had a message of great hope for them. This is also the situation today for those who disobey God. He will discipline us and get our attention to turn from our wicked ways, but in the book of Revelation, there is amazing hope for all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the chapters leading up to this one, we learned how, because of their great sin, God chose to discipline His children – His chosen people, in a way that seems extremely harsh to many. However, for those of us who have been around long enough, we know that it sometimes takes harsh discipline to truly get our attention and make it stick. But in today’s lesson, it is so rewarding to reflect on the outcome of that discipline. For in every discipline, we have a choice of returning to our same old sin, or to show that we learned a valuable lesson and are willing to do it right post-discipline. It is always easier to handle discipline when we have our eyes and hearts set on the hope that lies ahead, and I believe that God did just that for His people in this Scripture today.

Think seriously and deeply about this, friends. Assume for a moment that your nation is constantly struggling to fight off evil and the threat of war from an enemy nation. Now assume that your nation has been so unfaithful to God that He has demanded that your whole nation become subjects of that enemy nation. Wouldn’t you feel like the bottom just dropped out of your whole life and that there is absolutely no hope for any future worth living for? Can’t you imagine how the Israelites must have felt in being ruled by the Babylonians? BUT, in today’s Scripture, we are reminded that God will take care of His own and that He would never put more on us than we could handle. Yes, He did what He had to do in disciplining His children when all else failed to get their attention, but He also knew that He would one day bring them back home to where His glory would once again be displayed!

Unfortunately, this is very similar to our situation today. In His Word, God also offers us a ‘Promised Land’, one filled with the joys of Heaven in the presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one where there are streets of pure gold! Unfortunately, many in each of our countries have deliberately conceded to Satan instead. We have assumed a lifestyle that often is a mockery in the eyes of God. In many areas of life today, it is often challenging to discern the difference between a child of the Great High, and one who has chosen to do life their own way – the way of the world. Some might say that they are waiting until the end of life, as we know it here on earth, to surrender to the lordship of Jesus Christ. When might that be, dear friends? Children, teenagers, middle-agers, and seniors are dying unexpectedly for various reasons today, and the same could very likely happen to you, my appreciated reader.

In the New Testament, God offered us a New Covenant in the person of Jesus Christ. In this Covenant, we are told that we have a way out of this unrighteousness that we find ourselves in, but only those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. In other words, those who have not taken that step belong to Satan and will be given over to Hell for all eternity. If you were to tell your relatives right now where they will find you when you die, will it be Heaven or Hell? Only you can make that change, for you must surrender to Jesus for yourself. No proxies are allowed, for there is no provision for that in God’s Word. I’m ready to go home to my Father in Heaven, my good friends, and I sure hope that I will see you at the foot of Jesus worshipping Him with me. If unsure, or if you know that you never expressed faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, please read my Footnote and especially click on the link ‘To Know Jesus’ for Biblical help in making the most important decision you ever made in your life. Jesus loves you and He wants you to make this decision, dear friend!

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, Your love is expressed throughout Your Word, and I was reminded of that as I meditated on today’s verses. Thank You for the reassurance of the hope that lies ahead for other believers and me. This also puts me on notice that my unsaved loved ones and friends are destined for a place quite contrary to the joys I long for in Heaven. Please, Lord, melt the hearts of those I love and others who need You today. Draw them to Yourself and convict them of their sinful state, so that they might surrender to You in faith. I believe, oh Lord, please help those who don’t, for the end of life here on earth is drawing near, according to Your Word. AMEN

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. One of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals or subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk while you make every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!