Sin, God's discipline and restoration

Did you know that there is comfort to be had when, after you sin, God disciplines you?

“How is that possible?!” you may ask. Well, it simply shows that God really is your Heavenly Father. It reveals that you really are God’s child and Heaven is really is going to be your eternal home.

Because if God does not discipline you when you sin, you are not His child…

Proverbs 3:12 (New Living Translation)

“For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.”

Hebrews 12:5-8 (New Living Translation)

“And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,

‘My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.’

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.”

So, God’s discipline assures us that we really are His children. But, we don’t want to remain in His discipline. We want to get right with Him so that discipline can stop. How do we do that?

In my Bible reading this morning, I came across the story of Solomon’s dedication of the new Temple. After a long, celebratory day, the Lord spoke to Solomon in a vision that evening. He conveyed to Solomon that the people would eventually sin and He would need to discipline them. But, He told Solomon how the people could get back into right standing with Him.

2 Chronicles 7:12-14 (New Living Translation)

“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”

God provides the remedy:

Humble ourselves – Acknowledge that we have sinned and pridefully stepped out from under God’s authority over our lives. We need to put ourselves back under His authority.

Pray – Talk to Him. Confess where we have sinned and ask for His forgiveness.

Seek His face – Make it our passion to pursue Him until we find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).

Turn from our wicked ways – We cannot simply confess our sins. We must turn from them. It is impossible to follow and enjoy God if we are remaining in sin. We need to have a complete change of heart and turn from what is wrong never to do it again.

So, friend, is God worth it to you? Is He so precious to you that He is worth your life’s pursuit? Is He more valuable to you than any temporary pleasures you can gain in other pursuits?

Then do what it takes to remain in the favor of the God who loves you so much that He died to bring you into relationship with Him both now and forever!