Wrath withheld?

In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he answered him and gave him a sign. But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah. (2 Chronicles 32:24–26)

This portion of history I would like to see repeated. This attitude of a leader being blessed by God but not responding with humility happens, and pride of heart is making mockery of what God has done. Will the wrath of the Lord happen these days? Or will God treat today’s pride-filled leaders with mercy and test them with continued success? He did that with Hezekiah.

And Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made for himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of costly vessels; storehouses also for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds. He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great possessions. This same Hezekiah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart. (2 Chronicles 32:27–31)

It seems the world is slowly falling apart. For some time, the damages are “out there” and far from us, yet they creep closer. A news item this morning shows me I do not live in a safe little corner. 

Example: A local gas station did damage to several automobiles by filling their customer’s tanks with half gasoline, half water. Deliberate or accidental is not known but it made me feel as if I found a dead mouse in my cereal box.

Hezekiah reminds me that the people of God have a huge responsibility to obey God. Our actions, or lack thereof, affect the world we live in. A half-holy life might keep individuals from seeing the consequences, but the next generation may suffer because of God’s wrath on the sin of this generation.

Hezekiah’s son Manasseh reigned next, started out well, then led the people astray. He finally repented but his son took his place and. . . .   

Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done. Amon sacrificed to all the images that Manasseh his father had made, and served them. And he did not humble himself before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself, but this Amon incurred guilt more and more. And his servants conspired against him and put him to death in his house. But the people of the land struck down all those who had conspired against King Amon. And the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place. (2 Chronicles 33:21–25)

The conflict and sorrow caused by those who served in a half and half way affected many. The word therefore fails to fully describe the results, especially on the masses who lived under their leadership. 

Jesus, You know all things. Your goodness can be experienced even when those who rule politically waffle from mocking evil to being evil. Do we have any idea what true justice would do to the populations who suffer? Are You using the evils in this world to bring some to their knees before You? Trust without seeing Your plan is challenging many. Keep my focus on You and on the promises of what You are and what You will do to make all the world bow before You. 

Consequences

He said to him, “Go in peace.” But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” So Gehazi followed Naaman. 
And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?” 
And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’ ” 
And Naaman said, “Be pleased to accept two talents.” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi. 
And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed. 
He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” 
And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.” But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” 
So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow. (2 Kings 5:19–27)

There is much more to this story. The prophet was significant when this Syrian man was healed from a serious case of leprosy. Naaman was on his way home and thought he should reward Elisha but Elisha refused because God did the healing, not him. However, Elisha’s servant liked the idea of a reward and decided to go for it, behind his master’s back. When Elisha found out and confronted him, he told him the consequences of his lies and greed.

I’ve often thought how we are free to make choices but we cannot choose the consequences. This OT story is an example. More can be seen in many of the fictional dramas in the movies and television. Sadder still are those from real life. Individuals, families, co-workers, all people suffer for choosing selfishly. Broken relationships, illness, jail time, accidents, and all sorts of tragedies and unhappy situations are only a few of the many outcomes of ‘my way’ instead of God's way. And even if these unhappy results do not happen, after filling a shopping cart, every person must go through the checkout.

But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! (Psalm 73:16–19)
Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. (Psalm 37:1–2)
Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed— and though you get praise when you do well for yourself— his soul will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never again see light. Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish. (Psalm 49:16–20)

When young, life seems long and filled with opportunities and many choices. Now that I am older, it seems short and much of what I thought I wanted seems without value. Only God knows what will survive the judgment seat of Christ and have value for eternity. This makes me much more cautious about my choices and values.

Jesus, it is sobering to realize that even those who serve You or support Your people like Gehazi did can become greedy for things that do not have eternal value. Today, the food I cook and the chores that are done have value in this life, yet are “wood, hay, straw,” unless I do them in the grace You provide. (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). Enable me to keep my focus on what matters for Your glory rather than satisfying my selfish desires.

My way = big losses

At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. And Jeroboam said to his wife, “Arise, and disguise yourself, that it not be known that you are the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, who said of me that I should be king over this people. Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what shall happen to the child.” . . . .  
Ahijah could not see. . . . The Lord said to Ahijah, “Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to inquire of you concerning her son, for he is sick. Thus and thus shall you say to her.” When she came, she pretended to be another woman. But when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to be another? For I am charged with unbearable news for you. Go, tell Jeroboam, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: “Because I exalted you from among the people and made you leader over my people Israel and tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, and yet you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commandments and followed me with all his heart, doing only that which was right in my eyes, but you have done evil above all who were before you and have gone and made for yourself other gods and metal images, provoking me to anger, and have cast me behind your back, therefore behold, I will bring harm upon the house of Jeroboam and will cut off from Jeroboam every male, both bond and free in Israel, and will burn up the house of Jeroboam. . . . When your feet enter the city, the child shall die. And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found something pleasing to the Lord. . . . The Lord will raise up for himself a king over Israel who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam today. And henceforth, the Lord will strike Israel. . . .   And he will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he sinned and made Israel to sin.” 
Then Jeroboam’s wife arose and departed and came to Tirzah. And as she came to the threshold of the house, the child died. And all Israel buried him and mourned for him, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the prophet. (1 Kings 14:1–18)

I had an early appointment today with time to only read this sad story. Imagine being told your child would die because his father sinned even though he knew not to. Not only that, this was that man’s only heir so he also lost the throne that he had inherited from his father. 

That the child would be buried rather than slaughtered was “because in him there is found something pleasing to the Lord” is a startling statement to those who tend to think of death as a punishment, but that child must be trusting God, and that would please Him. His mother may have taken comfort in that later.

This backs up the importance of NT teaching for wives: “. . . .  let the wife see that she respects her husband.” (Ephesians 5:33) This isn’t just an attitude. Respect has a way of making someone desire to be respectable. It means an attitude of regard that would not encourage sin, or go along with it trying to trick a prophet. Being submissive to someone does not mean obedience that disobeys God. Being a helper includes encouragement to do right.

Jesus, You have convinced me that I am free to make choices but cannot choose the consequences. How foolish to go against Your plain teaching as this father did and lose his child, his throne and legacy, and having his enemy win over him. Worst of all, making You angry enough to release his enemy against him. Therefore I’d like to read more about the positive side of obeying You.

Free to choose — BUT…

Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’ ” David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.” (2 Samuel 12:7–14)

Every choice I’ve made, including every sin, has consequences. Obedience to God generally results in good things, for that is His intention. He tells me what to do that will bless my life.

However, if my choice comes from “I know better” or “I want something different” the results can vary greatly. If I confess the sin, God forgives…

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

But confession and forgiveness may not change the consequences of what I said or did. David’s confession did not bring Uriah back to life, nor did it keep the baby from dying. Yet unlike Saul, God did not removed David from the throne because of his disobedience.

The NT promises that those who put their faith in Jesus Christ have a guaranteed eternal hope. I may lose rewards but not the everlasting life. It is a gift of grace based on what Jesus has done, not on what I have done or failed to do.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

Why then the consequences? For me, they show me why obedience is important, wake me up to the importance of God's will, and teach me that I am not as wise as I thought I was. 

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but 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 12:5–11)

Jesus, consequences are seldom easy, but they are not a punishment as much as they are a classroom and a tool to teach me humility and lead me into deeper faith. In them I see Your great determination to transform my life but also they reveal Your awesome holiness.

One example of how we go our own way…

And Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ” 
So Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand men on foot, and ten thousand men of Judah. And Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart; go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction. 
The word of the Lord came to Samuel: “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night. And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal.” 
And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed be you to the Lord. I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” 
And Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?” 
Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction.” (1 Samuel 15:1–15)

While this part of the story does not tell the consequences of Saul’s disobedience in regard to the nation, it goes on to describe how Saul claimed to have obeyed, then confessed his sin when told God had rejected him from being king. But he then blamed it on the people and said to Samuel, 

“I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may bow before the Lord.” 
And Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you. For you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” As Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the skirt of his robe, and it tore. And Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.” 
Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may bow before the Lord your God.” (1 Samuel 15:24–30)

Excuses and lies. This man didn’t get it. God wants obedience, and if sin happens, He wants honesty. Instead, Saul tried to blame others and wanted God to change His mind so he could worship Him — blaming his inability to worship on God’s ‘failure’ to be lenient and refusal to do what he wanted. 

Lord, how foolish is a proud and sinful heart to think that God has to earn our love and obedience by doing what we want. This selfish thinking is just one of the many reasons You died.

God can prevent great sin before it happens…

Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.” So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth. (Genesis 11:1–9)

Today’s news has a president seizing the leader of another country and planning to charge him with drug trafficking. Regardless of how anyone feels about that action, the only way to stop crime is at the source. Today’s “therefore” describes why that city was called by a descriptive word that means to mix or mingle. His created people were planning to stay in one place whereas He had told them to “fill the earth”. God dealt with the source. 

This plan reveals how sin had created human independence and self-sufficiency apart from God. They thought they had no need of Him and were confident in their own ability. Even though this is the common result and description of sin (see Isaiah 53:6), in this case, God put a stop to the tower and city because it defied His will to use His people to bless the whole world. This came out later in His call to Abram.

However, it points ahead to humanity’s sinful desire to ensure our own security rather than trusting the Lord, and our desire to make a name for ourselves rather than praising God. It also points to the gospel plan. 

“Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.”

“Let us” points to the trinity. “Confuse their language” points to His power over our understanding” and the rest of the passage looks at the result. God came down much later and in that next time, He did not mix up speech but clarified Himself in His Son, Jesus Christ. His Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and for all who respond, we belong to His family and live together in His kingdom. 

Babel is also the name used in the OT for the city of Babylon. As a city, Babylon symbolizes humanity’s ambition to dethrone God and make the earth its own (see Revelation 17–18). This story shows the clash of divine and human wills. Interesting also is that the word “Babel” means “gate of God” yet the writer of Genesis used it as a play on words, this time to show the consequences of sin, and then to point ahead to when Jesus came down to defeat the power of sin and give His people a far greater unity than a tower and city every could.

Jesus, how many times I’ve tried to be my own Savior and attempt things without involving You. The results are always thwarted. Yet in mercy and grace, You use what even those things to change my life. You forgive my selfish ambitions and refuse to allow me to leave You out of my life or gain glory for myself. Thank You for rescuing me. To You be all glory. Amen.

Choices and consequences…

A radio preacher tells of a conversation with a person who thought she was neutral about faith in Christ. He tried to explain that if we have a choice, we are already in one of the choices. That is, she was saying NO to Jesus during the time she was not saying YES. She didn’t get that and insisted she would make a choice later. Finally the preacher said to her, “You can choose whatever you wish, but you cannot choose the consequences.”

How true. The OT is filled with examples. I read yesterday how Solomon began to serve as Israel’s king with faith and wisdom. However, he later chose many women outside of the people of God. Then, as God warned him, they led him from his faith and he began to worship idols. 

Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done. . . .  Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant. (1 Kings 11:6-11)

This man had been warned but he wanted what he wanted and lost all blessings from the Lord. As Piper says, doing our own thing can feel good in the process. Had Solomon experienced pain or sorrow, he would not have strayed. His story, and much of the OT is filled with reasons for remaining true to God. 

if you spurn my statutes, and if your soul abhors my rules, so that you will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant, then I will do this to you: I will visit you with panic, with wasting disease and fever that consume the eyes and make the heart ache. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. (Leviticus 26:15–16)

God’s OT people were repeatedly warned, yet they continually forgot God and did their own thing. What about the NT? Does the sacrifice of Christ for sin free me to do what I please? Some think so, but the truth is, even though God's forgiveness and grace keep us in His forever family, we still face the consequences of our choices.

The main thing sin does is mess with my relationship with God to the point that I’m not talking to Him or relying on Him. I miss out on the benefits that go with being close to Him and able to rely on His help. This is not God pulling away from me, but me pulling away from God. 

Another consequence is shame. It may not visit me right away, but guilt does that. It also puts me under another task-master…

What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (Romans 6:15–16)

Trusting Christ sets me free from sin. It seems senseless to go back to it. However, the human heart is deceitful. So are the lies of Satan and the lures of the world. The NT says repeatedly that my old nature is dead to God and must be treated that way, put off, ignored. If the danger was not there, God would not keep warning His people.

As for the consequences, this is an ‘if-then’ thing. My actions bring results, some in this life that bring blessing or sorrow, guilt, and unwanted events. Some are dealt later when God evaluates me at His judgment seat, not for faith but for the quality of my deeds. 

Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:12–15)

If I live for self, all such ‘works’ will be lost. Just as we say about money and possessions, ‘you cannot take it with you.’ The consequences of running my own life is having all of that burn up because it is rejected by the Lord. Only what is done in obedience will remain. 

PRAY: Jesus, this is both a relief and a warning. All my days are filled with choices. Following Your lead is important, not only for this life but for what will survive purging at the “Bema” seat where consequences are sorted out. Give me wisdom for each day. Your Word says if I “Trust in the Lord with all my heart, and do not lean on my own understanding, and in all my ways acknowledge You, that You will make straight my paths.” (Proverbs 3:5–6) This is a great assurance that good consequences will follow.

The Ripple Effect

A few weeks ago, God showed me a small example of the ripple effect. It began with a whim to see a lottery home on the other side of our city. That was His idea but I didn’t realize it at the time. It was Sunday and a long weekend so our usual brunch at church was not happening. We were a long way from home, so after viewing the house we went to a nearby restaurant. It happened to have those newsletters that sometimes show up in eating places. This copy had an article about a city who build an inner city with structures for artists to paint murals. When we got home, I looked it up and was utterly amazed at the paintings, most of them done with the artist standing on a forklift or other machinery. They were done freehand and astonishingly beautiful. I know a young artist that lives on the other side of our country thinking he would already be aware of this place but just in case, and because he does outdoor art sometimes, I sent him a message with the link. He messaged back, very excited because he was thinking of taking a course involving mural work and when he saw the work done in that far away place, he was convinced to take the course. How delightful — because of a whisper that seemed like a whim.

Today’s reading offers a much more startling example of God at work making ripples. It tells how one book changed many lives:

A book by Richard Sibbes, one of the choicest of the Puritan writers, was read by Richard Baxter, who was greatly blessed by it. Baxter then wrote A Call to the Unconverted which deeply influenced Philip Doddridge, who in turn wrote The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul. This brought the young William Wilberforce, subsequent English statesman and foe of slavery, to serious thoughts of eternity. Wilberforce wrote his Practical Book of Christianity which fired the soul of Leigh Richmond. Richmond, in turn, wrote The Dairyman’s Daughter, a book that brought thousands to the Lord, helping Thomas Chalmers the great preacher, among others.

Chalmers went on to write more than 30 books that also rippled out to affect others. This demonstrates the power of God to use the work of obedient people. It is about books, but could be about simple acts of obedience. Another author says, “You reflect the Spirit of God simply by the love you show to others. Your kindness will yield kindness. And, like a pebble tossed into a pond yields ripples, kindness flows outward from just one simple act, inspiring others.”

Another simple illustration is a yawn. Yawn and the whole room yawns. Smile at a stranger and who knows, that stranger is inspired to smile at another.

The book of Acts illustrates how God spread the Gospel like a pebble in a pond. Jesus told His disciples, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15) then told them how it would happen:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Usually the effects of doing what God says or just being like Jesus in life’s situations is not obvious. Also, faith is the foundation for obedience, not any notions about what will happen because of it. One person insists that all we need to do is share what Jesus has done for us and others will want to know him too. That is not always the way it works. Ask those in the middle east. Many Christians have been persecuted and even slaughtered for telling others about Jesus. This does not stop God from using their obedience, but many of them will never see the results.

For me, this points to the worst event in history — putting to death the innocent man who is God. And God turned that into the best event, the most superior thing that ever happened. Yesterday we heard of the torture He experienced. Many in our church wore black and felt the pain of it — in a minuscule way compared to what Jesus endured. Tomorrow we look back at the reason we call Friday ‘Good’ and celebrate the reality that Jesus is alive and that the ripple effect that started with a few at the empty tomb has reached our hearts and minds. Millions live because He lives, and the ripple continues to use the obedience of His people to bring Good News to one person then another, then another.

PRAY: Lord, for a few days I’ve felt the deep sorrow that You, my best Friend, suffered as You did to save me from sin and the wrath of God. As tomorrow rolls closer, that sorrow turns to incredulous joy for the love that put You on that cross and the ripples that You used to bring me to join You there happened because of Your obedience — and because You rose and are alive!

Cause and Effect

If I eat too much salt, my feet swell. If I watch violent movies, I might have nightmares. Today’s reading reminds me that God is not punishing me, only showing me the consequences of foolish choices. The world and the human psyche work in certain ways. He knows that and tells us to live accordingly. He is not saying ‘My way or the highway’ but ‘do this and live well’ because He wants the best for us. The devotion writer puts it this way:

If a man eats unsuitable food, he will have indigestion. An ignorant person may say that it was the wrath of God that brought on his indigestion, but we who understand the laws of health know that his indigestion is simply the result of the unsuitable food he has eaten. Similarly the sickly spiritual condition of so many Christians is not, as they sometimes think, a direct infliction of God’s displeasure but is simply and only the necessary consequence of the unsuitable and indigestible spiritual food on which they have been feeding.

Good parents think like this. If we know the ‘rules’ of nutrition and the effects of suitable food, we feed our kids a balanced diet, not candy, pop, and potato chips. They might want those things and some children throw temper tantrums at the checkout when mom will not grant them a treat from the shelves beside the till, but the child who trusts mom’s judgment is okay with a loving NO. This is how I am supposed to respond to the will of God, even the parts that restrict my I-wants and tell me that I cannot indulge. Does He not know what is best for His creation?

O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. (Psalm 139:1–6)

Of course His knowledge is too wonderful for me and I cannot attain it. My IQ and all the advice and research done in the world does not even come close to the intimate knowledge of God concerning every person on earth. He knows what I need and knows what will harm me. My part is like the child who trusts mom when she says NO.

We left on holidays just over a week ago. The Lord put it in my head to stop eating desserts and other sugary food during this time. I have a sweet tooth that I blame on habit; growing up on a farm, we always had dessert. However, I sensed this was God's idea and good for me. The surprise? Despite eating in restaurants and lots of visuals with sweet stuff, I have not had any desire to eat it. This is the power of God for my good.

The same principle helps with shopping. We are at a location where prices of everything we see is half or less than what we pay at home. Besides that, it all looks good, appealing to my delight in well-designed whatevers. However, the Holy Spirit nudges me constantly regarding need, never mind the size of my suitcase. His desire for my good does not include adding more stuff when He now has me in a stage of simplifying life. I’m to be purging, not collecting or hoarding — and this too is for my well-being. He wants me to guard my wallet as well as my waistline.

PRAY: In this place, temptations abound. Yet I realize Jesus, that Your Spirit can keep me contented with obeying You, regardless of what gets dangled before me. Besides, You are replacing anything I might covet with other wonders, like deer in the backyard, squirrels playing tag under the trees, birds of all colors singing to You, and answers to prayers for seemingly impossible situations. You are almighty God, yet You know and care about even my thoughts and are always guiding me because You want the best for me — me, a sinner saved by grace. Such a wonder!

 

Consequences for sin?

 

In a recent study group, one person said that even though Jesus died for our sin, when we sin we still have to suffer the consequences. I’ve heard that many times, but this week God startled me. He said, “Is that biblical?”

I thought of when His OT children sinned, God used it to humble them. In the NT, He “disciplines those He loves” and uses all things for our good. James says:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)

Are not some of those “various trials” the result of some sin we do? Is not the testing of my faith to see if I will trust what God has already told me — that all my sin has been covered by the sacrifice of Christ?

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit . . . For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot . . . You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:1–11)

I woke up this morning thinking how God uses my times of disobedience to deeply humble me, to make me realize ways that I am not like Jesus. He is not visiting me with a punishment when I experience sin’s consequences; He is teaching me to trust what He says — I am no longer condemned, even if I feel like it . . .

Therefore, we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (Hebrews 2:1–4)

There is certain judgment for everyone who does not receive Christ as Savior and Lord, but for those who have received Him, there is no further condemnation, only education to teach realities about sin, about falling short, that I am not as good or as smart as I think I am. The consequences are like a professor’s red marks on a term paper — not to punish but teach me how to do better.

Yes, the OT says disobedience met with just punishment, yet the NT is clear: God sent the solution: redemption through Christ. If anyone rejects Him, they are left with the alternative. BUT if Jesus is accepted, there is no more condemnation — only the classroom where we experience being transformed into His likeness by obedience and by the results of disobedience. Sometimes the consequences are great because they relate to what has been understood. If I sin in ignorance, God is gentler than if I know better and resist Him anyway. But the purpose of what happens is not punishment but instruction and reshaping, consequences that are certainly not meant to be thought of as suffering.

Paying attention to the Word of God means “rightly dividing the word of truth” and remembering that God treats His children differently than those who refuse His Son. They are judged and condemned; we are set free and trained — and will eventually see Jesus and be like Him forever. (More)

PRAY: Thank You Jesus for using all things for good, even my backslidings as part of the lessons needed to shape me into Your image and to give me a greater desire to help others see Your great grace.

PONDER: and worship God that sin’s remedy came to us, as a babe who grew in wisdom and stature and who died for our sin. May this bring all people boundless joy. Think of ways to tell those who need to hear.