Mercy or Consequences

Jeremiah 5: 25

Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.

I remember many years ago that one children’s favorite neighborhood friends was moving away. The weekend before his move, there was a camp out sleep over with all the neighborhood kids in his yard. One of my sons had gotten in trouble that week and was not allowed to go. I don’t remember what his infraction was, but I still remember how sad it makes me that he missed the sleepover. I think it is something that still makes him a little sad too.

As hard as it was to keep him home that night, he couldn’t be rewarded for wrong behavior. God is much more just that I am. How can I expect him to reward me for my wrong behavior? I can’t.

I think sometimes when we let our others continue to get away with things, we cross the line from showing them mercy to giving them the idea there are not consequences. As a parent, employer, friend, teacher, I’ve often had trouble knowing exactly where that line was. God does not. He is merciful and I’m so thankful for that. But there is a point where if we continue in our sin, we will face consequences. Don’t try Him. Don’t think because He has shown you mercy you will continue to not face consequences.