God loves me even when He hurts me…

A pastor tells of talking to a woman who said she had not yet accepted Christ but was thinking about it. He told her that at that point she was rejecting Him. She argued, but he told her there is no middle to choices, only yes or no. Then he told her she could choose as she wished, but she could not choose the consequences.

Today, Piper says there is a difference between the consequences of forgiven sin and the consequences of unforgiven sin. He then changes the terminology; the latter are properly called penalties; the former we should probably call “disciplinary consequences.” 

While both are related to sin, and reflect the displeasure of God for sin, their aim is not the same. For those who sin but belong to Jesus Christ by faith, our consequences are not condemnation. Jesus has already take that judgment on Himself. Instead, consequences of forgiven sin are to demonstrate sin’s evil, to show that God does not take sin lightly, and to humble and sanctify us as forgiven sinners.

My experience agrees. When I go against the will of God, there are consequences, but this is to show me the folly of what I did, and that even though Jesus died for that sin and I am forgiven, God take my actions seriously. I cannot do as I please for the results are never good for me or for others who may be involved.

Not only that, I gain by learning a lesson. Just as Hebrews 12:6 teaches “the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives”, I experience the reality of His desire that I be like Jesus and live a holy life. 

. . . .  He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:10–11)

While not all disciplinary pain ordained by God is directly owing to some sin I have committed, I usually can see some connection. However, I also realize that God is doing this for my good because He loves me and wants the best for me. 

Piper adds that this is immensely important to understand whenever there is an imbalance of emphasis on the Father’s forgiving tenderness to the exclusion of the Father’s forgiving toughness. Without a category to deal with the consequences of their sin, some will  underestimate the preciousness of forgiveness, or accuse God of double jeopardy in punishing what He has already forgiven.

The illustration is the sin of David with Bathsheba and ordering the death of her husband. While the result was painful (the baby died too), David was restored after confessing his sin, not  punished. (Psalm 51)

PRAY: Oh Jesus, at times I’ve suffered consequences, yet by Your grace and the gospel I’ve not lost the truth of forgiveness, or the hope of glory. When I confess, you restore both and even grant Your deep joy, sometimes in the midst of suffering those consequences. I know You allow them so I can be more like You and less like the stubborn and selfish person I would be without You in my life. Again, Your grace and love are amazing, even when it hurts.