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| image credit: http://www.robfullmer.me/angry-little-girl/ |
That's when they discover that, “Hmmm... I can really spin people around my pinky finger with my overload of cuteness even when I throw tantrums here and there.”
Have you noticed that they can lie, oh my, like deny to death that they've done something naughty just to save their cute behinds?
These small infractions you confront—with either a stern look, a face-the-wall, or a no-dessert warning. Or you ignore them, to their peril.
Worse than the above? You lavish them with praises for their misdeeds, excusing them as just child's play.
No parent in his right mind would want his child going wayward.
Disciplining is part and parcel of that package called love. And love's many facets include our bringing them up in the fear of the Lord.
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he may not depart from it,” Proverbs 22:6.
That's how our heavenly father deals with us too.
The Bible tells us that God is love. And rightly so, for why would He send His only begotten Son to die a horrible and shameful death to save us?
Romans 5:8 "God demonstrates His own love toward us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
“There's no one righteous, not even one... there's no one who does good,” says Paul in Romans 3:10-12. In His eyes, we're all spoiled-rotten kids, having inherited the sin nature of our first parents.
That's why even at toddler stage, sin is evident. And you can't deny this: in spite of our best intentions to be good, our minds are muddled with anger, envy, lust, judgment of others.
Those around us don't know of course, but He knows our most despicable thoughts!
So yes, we are all sinners, by Jesus' standards. Matthew 5:21-22 says that anyone who is angry with his brother is liable to judgment... liable to the fire of hell.
The very people He chose for Himself sinned. Their idolatry, grumbling and complaining made the Jews wander in the wilderness for 40 years.
Sin has its consequences—eternal separation from Him. Yet He offers a way out—salvation through our faith in Jesus Christ.
"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing might come from the Lord." (Acts 3:19)
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
"Repent" and "confess" are strong words. These are not suggestions.
When Jesus in John 3:7 said that “You must be born again” (John 3:7), He was commanding, not suggesting.
Faith in Jesus is our visa to the Father and His kingdom. “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me” (John 3:16).
- To dismiss all these as stirring up fear in people's hearts is beyond me.
- Why would a call to repentance incite fear when it is our heavenly Father's offer of a way out of His wrath? Why would many pooh-pooh God's judgment when the Bible clearly tells us that sin has its consequences? Separation from Him!
I've often read comments like these:
"Why would you want to instill fear when God is a loving God?"
"If I love someone of my own gender, that's OK, because God is love."
"Why harp on a judgmental God when you can focus on a loving, merciful and gracious God?”
By disregarding God's offer of salvation, aren't we likewise denying His offer of grace?
God's grace is not cheap. It had to take God's only begotten Son, coming down from heaven, willingly giving Himself up to the humiliation of the cross, so that with His resurrection, those who'd put their trust in Him would experience new life:
Our sins blotted away as the west is from the east. And reconciled with our heavenly Father throughout all eternity.
The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs :10)
As the world descends from bad to worse, shouldn't we take shelter in God instead? The fear of God is the only fear worth possessing. Faith in Jesus cancels all other fears.
Prayer: Jesus, I repent of my sins. I confess that I am a sinner. I put my trust in you alone, for there is no name given, in heaven or on earth, by which I can be saved. Be my Savior and my Lord. And let Your Holy Spirit teach me your ways. In your Name I pray.
Amen. People reject the concept of God's wrath because its easier to understand God's love; which is why grace is abused and taken for granted.
ReplyDeleteOh, if they would just pause and experience His grace! Thanks for reading, Rey. Warm regards.
DeleteHi, Vie. Thanks for reading. Praying you and Rene and your kids are well. Hugs!
ReplyDelete