God's Punishment Can Be Good
We do not like to be punished, but it is good for us, when it is done for the right reason and in the right spirit. God's punishment is always perfect. It is just what we need. However, it is only when we receive it and learn from it that we see the right results or fruit in our lives.(Hebrews 12:11) If we want the peaceable fruit of righteousness in our lives, we will humbly accept God's punishment and be trained by it.
Pleasure is great. We enjoy things that bring us pleasure. However, we usually do not grow to be more like Jesus through pleasure. We grow through pain, and some of the pain comes when God has to punish us for disobeying Him. Like the Good Father He is, God knows that being righteous is best for us. Therefore, He corrects us and punishes us, as necessary, to lead us to righteousness. We can rebel and refuse to obey, but if we do, we will miss His will for our lives. We will miss the peace of heart that comes from doing what God specifically formed us and gifted us to do. We should never want to miss out on that.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Hebrews 13 and James 1-2.
Pleasure is great. We enjoy things that bring us pleasure. However, we usually do not grow to be more like Jesus through pleasure. We grow through pain, and some of the pain comes when God has to punish us for disobeying Him. Like the Good Father He is, God knows that being righteous is best for us. Therefore, He corrects us and punishes us, as necessary, to lead us to righteousness. We can rebel and refuse to obey, but if we do, we will miss His will for our lives. We will miss the peace of heart that comes from doing what God specifically formed us and gifted us to do. We should never want to miss out on that.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Hebrews 13 and James 1-2.