Corona Devo 3145

Sin.  Consequence.  Discipline.  Justice.

~~~

I can remember occurrences back in grade school when a few kids would break the rules or abuse privileges in the school day, and then our whole class would have to pay the price and miss recess.  

Sometimes the behavior and errors of others can affect us directly.

And in Ohio, most middle schools will take a field trip to Washington D.C. to see the monuments, buildings, and offices that hold such meaning and foundation for our Nation.  But I know of at least one middle school class that was so irreverent, disobedient, and wild- that the entire class trip to D.C. was cancelled that year.

Sometimes the behavior and errors of others can affect us directly.

Such is sin and it's effects and affects over us and others.  

To be sure--we are sinful--every one of us.  

...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  ~Romans 3:23

First--we must accept our sinfullness, and own that.  

And then we can accept Jesus Christ, Who had no sin, but Who died for our sins: so that we could be cleansed of our sin...and changed by Him.
 And so that we can love for Him, and sin less.  

That's the whole point of the Bible...

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  ~II Corinthians 5:21

Consequence.  Discipline.  Justice.  Forgiveness. 

~~~

But not all people know God, and sadly...not all people want to know and live for our Lord.

We are most certainly not perfect, but, aren't we trying to seek and serve the Lord today, Brothers and Sisters?

However, the kids that broke the rules and caused us to miss recess in grade school grew up.  And not everyone wants to be seeking and serving the Lord today.  

And the Biblical prophet Micah reminds us through God's Word that the Lord sees the disobedience of our world.

Sometimes the behavior and errors of others can affect us directly.

(1) The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah—the vision he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. 

(2) Hear, you peoples, all of you, listen, earth and all who live in it, that the Sovereign Lord may bear witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. 

(3) Look! The Lord is coming from his dwelling place; he comes down and treads on the heights of the earth.

(4) The mountains melt beneath him and the valleys split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope. (5) All this is because of Jacob’s transgression, because of the sins of the people of Israel...

(7) All her idols will be broken to pieces; all her temple gifts will be burned with fire; I will destroy all her images.  

Since she gathered her gifts from the wages of prostitutes, as the wages of prostitutes they will again be used.” 

(8) Because of this I will weep and wail; I will go about barefoot and naked.  I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl. 

(9) For Samaria’s plague is incurable; it has spread to Judah.  It has reached the very gate of my people, even to Jerusalem itself.  ~Michah 1:1-5, 7-9

Our holy Lord is aware of the sins of the world. 

He sent His Son to die for them (the sins and the people committing them).  

But---a heart must be willing to acknowledge it's sinfulness...and to accept it's Savior.

God reminds us that those who are unwilling and unrepentant break His holy heart (Because of this I will weep and wail; I will go about barefoot and naked...  ~Micah 1:8), but (if unchanged), they will answer to the Lord eventually.

Sin.  Consequence.  Discipline.  Justice.

What sorrow awaits you who lie awake at night, thinking up evil plans. 
You rise at dawn and hurry to carry them out, simply because you have the power to do so.
(2) When you want a piece of land, you find a way to seize it. 
When you want someone’s house, you take it by fraud and violence. 
You cheat a man of his property, stealing his family’s inheritance.

(3) But this is what the Lord says: “I will reward your evil with evil; you won’t be able to pull your neck out of the noose.  You will no longer walk around proudly, for it will be a terrible time.” ...

(6) “Don’t say such things,” the people respond.  “Don’t prophesy like that.  Such disasters will never come our way!”...

(7) ...Will the Lord’s Spirit have patience with such behavior?  If you would do what is right, you would find my words comforting.

(8) Yet to this very hour my people rise against me like an enemy! ~Micah 2:1-3, 6, 8 

Sin.  Consequence.  Discipline.  Justice.

All of it will come, and as we live in this broken world, we will not be immune to the brokenness. 
Sometimes the behavior and errors of others can affect us directly.

But in this world where we get scraped and hurt by the shrapnel of society's sinful choices...there is hope...and God gives us promise.  

Eventually (the Lord says), the behavior and errors of others will not affect us directly.

“I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob, I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together like sheep of the fold, like a flock in the midst of their pasture; they shall make a loud noise because of so many people. (13) The one who breaks open will come up before them; they will break out, pass through the gate, and go out by it; their king will pass before them, with the Lord at their head.”  ~Micah 2:12-13

Consequence.  Discipline.  Justice. Forgiveness.  Redemption.  Favor.  Covering.  Unity.

Those who are unwilling and unrepentant will answer to the Lord eventually.

But, take heart Brothers and Sisters in Christ!...those who are willing and repentant will answer to the Lord eventually too...and it will be good, and whole, and unbroken.

Blessings,

sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com