Re: Verse reading—John 15:1-17 (day seven)
” You have already been cleansed (pruned) by the word I have spoken to you”–v 3. Truth hurts! Sometimes. Maybe this is why the Bible describes the Glorious Christ as having a “sharp two-edged sword coming out of his mouth”–Revelation 1:16. What He has to say is usually not pleasant to hear! In another place, the Bible describes itself with the same words. “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword”–Hebrews 4:12. None of us should be surprised, then, if hearing Christ is uncomfortable. The disciples had certainly experienced this discomfort. His words had pruned their attitudes and values, challenged their unbelief and self-centeredness. In the same way, His word convicts us and calls us to reach toward the eternal purposes of Holy God. Comfortable? No. Loving? Yes. He uses His sharp knife to cut away all that is inconsistent with His glory and our good. And all the people said, “Ouch”!
