"God's Goodness Abused" July 9 Readings: 2 Chronicles 35-36, Acts 10:1–33, Psalm 80:1–8, Proverbs 17:1–3

Today's Readings - 2 Chronicles 35-36, Acts 10:1–33, Psalm 80:1–8, Proverbs 17:1–3

Devotional - God's Goodness Abused

Our God is relentlessly good, merciful and kind. He does not treat us as our sins deserve but pours out grace on us day by day. Unfortunately, all too often we treat God as if he not just merciful and good, but weak. We treat him as if he is a pushover who doesn't have the backbone to stand. He will, some think, just look the other way when we sin, when we ignore his word and his commands. We have turned the God of love into a God of wimpy sentimentality. 

It is a serious error. Israel learned this in the events described in 2 Chronicles 36. That chapter describes the final destruction on Judah that came as a result of their sin and it demonstrates that even though our God is loving and merciful he is not a God to be ignored, to be messed with, to be treated with disdain. Verse 16 says, 

"But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, until there was no remedy."

Simply put, they pushed God too far. When God sent them his word through the prophets they ignored the word, despised and ridiculed those who brought the word and scoffed at the message that God's judgment would come. They ignored God until the hammer fell and it was too late. 

God is gracious beyond words and is not angry at his children. But even in this church age, in the age of grace, he still is serious about sin and he disciplines his children. When we flaunt his word he will, like a good father, discipline us to turn us back to righteousness. 

The book of 2 Chronicles ends, though, on a note of hope. Their sin brought destruction, utter, complete and devastating. But the book ends with Cyrus' decree to send the Babylonian captives back to Jerusalem. Even in his punishment, in his discipline, God is working to restore, to bring us back, to make us new.

God is a good God, a merciful God who blesses us far beyond what we deserve. But God does not wink at sin or excuse it. He disciplines his children and calls us to account. His Spirit draws us to holiness, convicts us of sin and brings us to our knees in repentance.

God loves us so much he will not allow us to get away with our sin!

Father, thank you for your grace and love. May I never use that as an excuse for sin or careless living. 

Think and Pray

Which of the readings spoke most powerfully to you today?
Is the Spirit of God moving you to repent of something you are doing, to begin something new, or to change something about your life as a result of your readings? What?

We can see the effects of sin all around us.
Remember and rejoice that our God is able, through his Son, to overcome sin and its destruction.
But also remember that God takes sin seriously, that he judges it, and that there are times when, in his perfect timing, his patience ends and his judgment falls.
Never let the great goodness of God become an excuse for you to live carelessly, sinfully.