2. Balanced
The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished…
Exodus 34:6-7; Numbers 14:18
As we explored last time, God’s love for us is unfailing. It abounds as does his faithfulness. He loves us to eternity. His love doesn’t come and go on a whim. He maintains his love, keeps it going, like the Olympic Flame never allowed to go out.
From his love comes compassion, grace, faithfulness, forgiveness but, whilst there is no limit to his love, he does not leave the guilty unpunished.
How do I explain this? Allow your imagination to consider a fairy godmother – always there for you, always loving you no matter what you do but never meting out punishment when you do the wrong thing. Forgiving but not taking action to teach you that what you have done is wrong and has consequences.
I question whether this kind of love is real love. Yes, there is kindness, forgiveness but her kind of love is not healthy or good for you. You are unable to grow under that love, to develop into the full person you should be. You can’t learn the lessons you need to make good decisions.
Now think of a time in your childhood when one of your parents or another significant adult who loved you dearly discovered your misdemeanour – you stole a cookie from the cookie jar, you beat up on your sibling, you lied about where you went last night. There was a consequence for what you had done, dished out with a measure of their love for you and desire to see you learn from your mistake.
God’s love is a just and balanced love – a love that forgives but also acts to ensure that justice is done. This is a tough one – God is no Santa Claus who has forgotten to put his teeth in. Whilst, as Christians, we have access to his forgiveness, we also know that there are always consequences for our behaviour. There are many Christians who have broken the law of the land. They may have embezzled funds, struck out at another, driven while under the influence of alcohol, or one of a multitude of other crimes. They understand that whilst God’s forgiveness is available and his love for them hasn’t wavered, there is always a price that must be paid for what they have done whether it be time in prison, restitution of embezzled funds, a fine, community service.
My child don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children.
Hebrews 12:5-11 (Proverbs 3:11-12)
God’s love for us is never diminished by his need for justice. His love is all the greater for being balanced out by his justice because it speaks of his desire for us to live our best lives.
Prayer: Lord, help me to understand this balance between love and justice and how the latter makes the former all the greater and more powerful. I pray that I will not lean on my own understanding in this but trust in you with all my heart (Proverbs 3:5).
Amen.
Action: Today try looking at the world, at life through the lens of God’s just love and allow yourself to be examined and forgiven when you have done wrong. Be open to God’s loving and fair discipline and prepared to take the consequences with the forgiveness.
Journal your thoughts…
