NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 10-13
SCRIPTURE READING
Romans 8:28 (ESV); And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who
love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
What happens when we know we have completely disobeyed the Lord? We received clear
direction from Him and chose to take another route. Blatant sin is a dangerous thing, and
when we recognize our actions as such, repentance is the first step. God loves a heart that
turns to Him in true confession and a desire to do differently.
And yet consequences remain. God clearly warned you not to marry your spouse but
you went ahead with it and now, years later, there are major struggles. You continued
friendships in junior high that you were clearly warned to run away from, and today you
are still dealing with the junk from the path those friends lead you down. God warned you
to change a hardened heart, and today you struggle with a physical illness because you
refused.
The verse above is not a magic lifeline. We can’t recite it and expect all our mistakes to
be smoothed out. God is not obligated to get us out of situations that we put ourselves in.
Consequences are a natural outworking of sin, and one that God does not usually whisk
away with repentance. The guilt can be gone while the consequence remains.
And yet God still has great purpose for us, and if we love Him and are pursuing Him
wholeheartedly, He will work for our good in spite of past mistakes. He doesn’t stand with
arms crossed in pouty refusal to love us. He is wonderful and sovereign and is willing and
able to walk with us as we bear the consequences of our sin.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Is this you? Have you blatantly disobeyed God before? Ask Him to point out times where
you have done this and the situation remains unconfessed. Are you ready to repent? If so,
spend some time on that now.
2. How have you experienced consequences for sin in your life? Have you remained
faithful amid those consequences?
3. Meditate on Romans 8:28. Ask God to remind you of times when He gave you renewed
purpose after you confessed sin. Ask Him to do that again today.
