TODAY’S MEDITATION – Why do you still suffer the consequences of your sin? (Proverbs 3:11-12).

Why do you still suffer the consequences of your sin while Jesus died for our sins? The Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). My brother, my sister, Christ paid the penalty for our sin. Everyone will pay for his sin unless he comes to Christ, who has paid the price for our sin with His blood. Adam and Eve suffered consequences for their sin by being expelled from the Garden. Instead of using the word “consequences,” we should talk about “discipline” because God does not punish us anymore like in the Old Testament but His love and encouragement tells us this: “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in” (Proverbs 3:11-12). My friend, as you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own child. If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his child. Since we respect our earthly fathers who discipline us, should we not also submit to the discipline of our heavenly Father and live forever? True enough that no discipline is enjoyable while it is happening, it is even painful! But afterward there will be a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way” (Hebrews 12:5-11). God shows His love by correcting us or using discipline to bring us to where He wants us to be. Now discipline can come in many forms, depending on the seriousness of the offense. If a child is never disciplined or never suffers the consequences for his wrong action, he will never learn what is right. The same, If you don’t suffer the consequence of your sin, how would you know when you are doing right or wrong? The psalmist says, “Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread; they wouldn’t think of praying to God” (Psalm 53:4). See also Psalm 10:11, “The wicked say to themselves, ‘God isn’t watching! He will never notice!’” If God did not bring about consequences, we would not learn from our mistakes and change our ways. God only disciplines those who are His, and He does this out of love for us, not to harm us or tear us down. It is God’s way of saying, ‘My child, you are going the wrong way, and it is time to turn around and do what is right’. If we are not corrected when we do wrong, then we will keep doing wrong. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins so we will not have to suffer the second death, which is hell (Revelation 20:14). Stay blessed in Jesus’ name. [facebook] [retweet]