Punish For Sin
By Mike Rule

So often we as believers wonder why God doesn’t punish and judge, but allows the people of the world to get away with their sin. I fear we don’t know what we are really saying and we would NOT like the results if God did punish.

Our God shows no partiality. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. (Matthew 5:43-45 HNV) If God was going to punish for sin, He would have to punish ALL sin. That would bring the self-righteous as well as the unrighteous under judgment. He would have to punish both the Church and the world. I don’t know about you, but I have an inkling of how self-righteous I am, and I pray for His mercy on both the just and the unjust. So if for nothing other than my sake, please don’t pray for His punishment for sin! Instead let’s pray for His mercy and Grace to abound. Let’s pray to see Jesus lifted up and to see Him redeem that which is lost to Himself. We would see Jesus and Him alone.

Verses for Reflection

“Human being, you have already been told what is good, what Adonai demands of you – no more than to act justly, love grace and walk in purity with your God.” (Micah 6:8 CJB)

“GOD, your God, is the God of all gods, He's the Master of all masters, a God immense and powerful and awesome. He doesn't play favorites, takes no bribes…” (Deuteronomy 10:17 MSG)

“Peter fairly exploded with his good news: "It's God's own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites!”(Acts 10:34 )

“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but rather so that through Him, the world might be saved.” (John 3:17 CJB)