I was thinking of God’s mercy and justice today when I had to dole out a little punishment. My three-year-old violated house rules. He knew punishment was coming. I asked him, “Did you know that you were not supposed to do xyz?” He said, “Yes. I will never do it again.” And like that, the punishment was unnecessary. I said, “OK.” And Jack said, “I’m sorry, Mama. I love you very, very, very much.” Am I a pushover?
Jonah was in my mind at the time. God used Jonah to tell the people of Ninevah they they were going to be destroyed for their wickedness. The people repented and the God who changes hearts and sees inside them as well, spared the people. God changed his mind. (Jonah 3:10)
I know that sometimes there are consequences even when we are heartily sorry for our actions and are sure we will never do them again. But look at what my child said to me when his “sentence” was commuted. He said he loves me. THAT is what God’s mercy has done for me. It has awakened love in me for Him. I know I deserve His justice. I know that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31) But I am forgiven much and I love much (and not enough). (Luke 7:47)
God is always just and always merciful. He doesn’t swing back and forth from one to the other. He is perfectly just all the time while being perfectly merciful. The sacrifice of Jesus satisfies both God’s justice and God’s mercy. Perfectly. He bore the punishment for my crimes. Mercy and justice.
January 24, 2008 at 2:58 pm |
Amen – His mercy on us is amazing – thank you for this post! It touched me.
Peace
January 24, 2008 at 11:07 pm |
I’ll say, “Amen”
Thanks for sharing some quoted verses.
January 25, 2008 at 2:37 am |
So very true, this is a precious post my friend. I love you.
January 25, 2008 at 11:11 am |
Good thoughts. I do think that their are times when a child does wrong and realizes what he has done and is repentent of it without any training being applied. It shows that he is internalizing what you have been teaching him. So you are not a pushover, you are discerning.
January 25, 2008 at 3:23 pm |
“Am I a pushover?” Naw – as long as it is something he wasn’t doing again 15 minutes later! *wink*
I think we all try to teach our babies there’s consequences to our actions and choices but just as you put it so well…there’s ALWAYS room for more mercy!