Keeping the Faith; Never losing Hope; Always Loving

Why is it that we have such a hard time with the idea of a God who punishes us?  I don’t seem to have a problem with the idea of punishing my children when they have crossed a line.  In fact, that punishment is almost always to protect them, to prevent them from continuing on a path that could cause more harm to them or someone else.

Is there some magic age when I know longer need corrected when I am crossing a line that could cause harm to myself or someone else?  Do I get my voters registration card or have my first beer and say, “ok, I’ve now arrived, no need for correction and I can now see in all directions.”

The reality is, I punish my kids as an act of mercy (that’s the way it should work, I am ashamed to say that I am guilty of punishment out of anger too), I am able to see ahead the consequences to their action and I punish them because I don’t want them to continue down this road they cannot see is heading to great consequences.

Do you really believe for a second that you are able on your own to see in every direction that consequences to your own actions and make those corrections on your own?  Let me help you…..no you can’t!  It’s that simple; you can’t do it on your own.

I am so thankful that I am in a relationship with a God that can see in all directions.  I am more thankful that I am in a relationship with a God that loves me enough to have mercy on me through punishment.  In fact, if God doesn’t show me mercy through punishment I am going to end up screwing up my life and the lives of others.

The prophet Isaiah understood this truth.  In Isaiah 60:10, the prophet says, “for in my wrath I struck you down, but in my favor I have had mercy on you.”  In fact, you can’t have punishment without mercy and maybe you can’t have mercy without punishment.  Both work together by a God who loves us so much that His actions of punishment are a result of His favor He is pouring on us through mercy.

Never forget that God’s punishment is not out of anger (which is where we go wrong, so often our actions of punishment are fueled by anger……) but God’s punishment is rooted in a love that desires to pour out His favor on us through mercy that we might be an asset, and not a liability, to God’s mission in the world.

Peace,

Pastor P

(chadpullins@connect2crossroads.com; www.wedesiremore.com)