The Negative Consequences
When there’s been bad behaviour I can’t reward them
Reference: “He turned away from them and began to weep, but then came back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.” Genesis 42:24 NIV
Explore: I love to give my boys special things. One of them loves pancakes. The other loves donuts.
They’re not expensive requests and very easy for me to provide. However, when there’s been bad behaviour I can’t reward them with their favourite foods.
This doesn’t just make them sad; it makes me sad too. I love to reward the boys but when they behave poorly I have to stand my ground.
Application: When Joseph was confronting his brothers he also wept. They were scared but he stuck to his plan.
Our discipline is not always easy. And I assume this is the same for God.
Although He offers love and grace, He also knows the importance of allowing a consequence to run its course. We need to learn that our actions have an impact on our future.
When we follow God, we change our actions to align with His. That’s when our future also becomes more aligned to His too.
Prayer: Lord, may my actions be in line with Yours so that our futures collide too. Amen.
What consequences have you had to live through in your life?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.