At first glance, this may seem I’m ending the week’s devotions on a sour note. But really it’s further proof that God is just. Does a loving father ignore his child’s misbehavior, or does he correct his child? Children who don’t receive correction grow up to be out of control, self-centered, undisciplined adults. That’s not pretty. God the Father loves us enough to want better for us than self-centered, undisciplined lives. Sadly, just like the children of Israel went through generations of wandering away from God, we sometimes do the same, with generations choosing rebellion rather than obedience. Then the children follow the parents’ examples and live in disobedient rebellion, too. That’s the father’s iniquity spilling over on the children. If generations continue to perpetrate sinful behavior, they can expect God’s judgment. But if they repent—if they turn from their wicked ways and follow the Lord—He is compassionate and forgiving; He restores the broken relationships; He draws us into fellowship again. People’s opinions change. Societal norms shift. But God never changes. That is why He is our only source of security. He deserves our obedience and our reverence.
You May Also Like
How we glorify the Father
I love the symbolism of baptism. Being “buried” in the water, which represents sin’s death, then emerging drenched in the newness of Christ. There’s a joke about a church overrun by squirrels. One of the deacons says he knows how to get rid of them—“Let’s baptize them. After that, we’ll…
Changed from the inside out
Has someone ever apologized to you for a wrongdoing, then turned around and did the same thing again? Their apology suddenly doesn’t seem so sincere, does it? Saying we’re sorry when we’ve done wrong is the first step; being repentant—turning from that behavior to wiser choices—is the second. God forgives…
God’s amazing grace
Paul had a calling directly from the Lord to tell others about God’s grace. He was determined to fulfill that call because he had experienced its power for himself. The job Paul mentions isn’t limited to him. Are you saved? Have you basked in the incredibly extravagant generosity of grace?…

